HIGHWAY SAFETY, INNOVATIONS HIGHLIGHT SUNBELT EXPO

The Sunbelt Agricultural Exposition celebrated its 35th anniversary, and the Oct. 16 opening day of the annual event in Colquitt County featured numerous celebrations as well as a push for highway safety.

Pulaski County farmer Barry Martin represented Georgia as the state’s Swisher Sweets Sunbelt Agricultural Exposition Farmer of the Year, one of 10 state winners on hand to be honored with the traditional green jacket and a crystal ice bucket. Dale McLellan, a hay, corn and oats producer from Thonotosassa, Fla., was named the Southeastern Farmer of the Year during the Willie B. Withers Sunbelt Ag Expo Luncheon. The luncheon featured remarks from Gov. Nathan Deal and Gov. Robert Bentley of Alabama, the 2012 Sunbelt Expo spotlight state.

“Agriculture is still the No. 1 industry in Georgia, accounting for about 10 percent of our overall economic activity. It employs thousands of people in various aspects of both direct agriculture and agribusiness and related activities,” Deal said. “The Expo is one of those opportunities to showcase exactly what is happening in this very important industry for the Sunbelt states of our nation.”

At the Georgia Agriculture Building, GFB collected signatures from visitors in the Stop the Flood of Regulation campaign, aimed at limiting EPA regulations harmful to agriculture. GFB and the Georgia Department of Agriculture also conducted a number of combined cooking demonstrations and a Coke and peanut social hosted by Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Gary Black and GFB President Zippy Duvall.

Deal, Black, Governor’s Office of Highway Safety Director Harris Blackwood and Duvall held a press conference urging Georgians to be aware of farm vehicles on the road during the harvest season, marking the second year of the “Improving Georgia’s Yield Behind the Wheel” campaign. Deal cautioned Georgia drivers to reduce their highway speeds, while Duvall urged farmers to make sure their warning triangles are prominently displayed and maintained to maximize visibility and asked them to refrain from driving farm vehicles on the road before sunrise or after sunset.

“As farmers, we have a responsibility not only to provide food and fiber for this state, this country and this world, but we have a responsibility to our communities, our neighbors, our friends and our families to make sure we do our part to ensure safety on the roads,” Duvall said.

Blackwood noted that in 2011 there were 401 crashes involving farm vehicles on the state’s highways, resulting in 138 injuries and five fatalities. One of those was Colquitt County teenager Jacob Sutton, whose parents, James and Ellen Sutton, shared their experience to promote awareness of highway safety in hopes other families will be spared the loss they’ve experienced.

October 17, 2012 www.gfb.org Vol. 30 No. 42

Leadership Alert page 2 of 6 GDA TAKING COMMENTS ON AG SALES TAX EXEMPTION PROGRAM

Farmers will be exempt from paying sales tax on most materials used to produce commodities effective Jan. 1, 2013, following the Georgia General Assembly passing House Bill 386 earlier

this year and Gov. Nathan Deal signing the bill into law. House Bill 386 set the general provisions of the Georgia Agriculture Tax

Exemption (GATE) program including criteria farmers must meet to qualify for the tax exemptions. The bill also stipulated that

farmers apply to the Georgia Department of Agriculture (GDA) to obtain a GATE certificate to show when

purchasing inputs such as seed, feed, chemicals, etc. that qualify for the tax exemption.

To qualify for a GATE certificate a farmer must: produce $2,500/year or more in agricultural products; provide $2,500/year worth of agricultural

services or produce a long-term agricultural product with the potential to produce $2,500/year or be the owner of property that

qualifies for the Conservation Use Value Assessment or Forestland Protection Act.

The GDA has posted proposed rules regarding the GATE program on its website and is accepting comments on the rules until 4:30 p.m. Oct. 26. The proposed rules are available at http://agr.georgia.gov/2012-legal-notices.aspx.

The main provisions of the proposed rules are:1) The GATE certificate may only be used by certified qualified ag producers. 2) Application for the GATE certificate is to be made in writing or online via a form prescribed by the GDA and to be available at www.agr.georgia.gov by mid-November. 3) There will be a $20 fee for online applications and a $25 fee for written applications. 4) GATE certificates must be renewed annually. Failure to renew the annual certificate deactivates the certificate with no tax exemption availability.

The GDA will consider submitted comments on Oct. 29. Comments should be sent to Dr. James Sutton, Director of Administration, Georgia Department of Agriculture, 19 Martin Luther King, Jr. Dr., Atlanta, Ga. 30334 or via fax to 404-232-1547. Call 404-656-3600 for more information. PEANUT FARM SHOW MOVES TO TIFTON

The 2013 Georgia Peanut Farm Show and Conference will be held in Tifton for the first time in 30 years. The event, scheduled for Jan. 17, 2013, at the University of Georgia’s Tifton Campus Conference Center is free to attend for all participants. Peanut farmers will have the opportunity to visit with more than 75 agribusinesses and organizations in the peanut industry. Opportunities to earn private and commercial pesticide applicator certifications are available and updates on cutting edge research and developments will be presented in the University of Georgia Peanut Production Seminars and the industry-wide sponsored Peanut Seed Seminar.

Farmers will also be able to tour the research facilities on the University of Georgia-Tifton Campus and tour their new Georgia Peanut Commission offices located adjacent to I-75 across from ABAC’s Georgia Museum of Agriculture and Historic Village, formerly known as the Georgia Agrirama. Lunch will be provided to all registered farmers.

For more information on the show, contact the Georgia Peanut Commission office in Tifton, Ga. at 229-386-3470 or by emailing info@gapeanuts.com. Information is also available on the Georgia Peanut Commission website at http://www.gapeanuts.com.

Leadership Alert page 3 of 7 USDA’S GEORGIA SOYBEAN PRODUCTION ESTIMATE SOARS

Georgia’s soybean production is expected to increase by 128 percent from 2011 to 2012, according to the October crop production report from the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. The state’s soybean growers are expected to produce 6.77 million bushels in 2012, compared with 2.97 million bushels in 2011. The latest estimate is up from the 5.58 million bushels that the NASS forecast for Georgia in its September crop report.

The estimate of Georgia’s 2012 peanut production, already expected to reach record levels, increased from 2.83 billion pounds in the September NASS report to more than 3 billion pounds in the October report, due in part to higher-than-expected average yields. Georgia peanut growers anticipate an average of 4,150 pounds per acre, up from 3,900 pounds per acre in the September report. The expected 3 billion pound peanut harvest in 2012 is 83 percent more than the 2011 harvest of 1.65 billion pounds.

The NASS also adjusted its forecast of the state’s corn and tobacco harvests. Georgia corn growers are anticipated to harvest 56 million bushels, up from 52.7 million bushels predicted in the September report and up 31 percent over the 2011 production of 42.6 million bushels. The state’s tobacco production is expected to decline by 10 percent, from 26.8 million pounds in 2011 to 24.1 million pounds in 2012.

The NASS estimate for the state’s cotton production - 2.5 million bales - did not change from September to October.

Georgia’s hay growers are expected to produce 1.48 million tons in 2012, an increase of 14 percent over the 2011 production of 1.3 million tons. GFB HARVEST FOR ALL CAMPAIGN FIGHTS HUNGER

According to a United States Department of Agriculture report released in September, 17.4 percent of Georgia’s households had low or very low food insecurity from 2009-2011, a rate surpassed by only five other states. For the eighth year, Georgia Farm Bureau is conducting its Harvest for All campaign to help alleviate hunger in our state.

Each year the GFB Young Farmer Committee works with the Georgia Food Bank Association and its seven affiliate food banks located across Georgia to provide food for Georgians in need. For the third consecutive year, the campaign is focused on raising money for Georgia’s food banks because they have the ability to stretch each donated dollar into approximately four meals. For example, for every $50 donated, 200 meals can be placed on tables around our state!

“We encourage the members of our organization to contribute to this worthy cause,” GFB Young Farmer Committee chairman Jake Carter said. “Providing individuals with food is the job of a farmer, and we take this job very seriously. Harvest for All is a tremendous way to make a difference to those who may not know where to get their next meal.”

Since 2004, GFB has coordinated seven Harvest For All campaigns through which GFB members across the state donated about 49,000 pounds of staple food items and more than $60,000 in cash donations distributed to the food banks located throughout Georgia affiliated with Feeding America.

If you would like to donate to this campaign, please stop by your county Farm Bureau to make a donation.

Leadership Alert page 4 of 7 HORSE PASTURE FIELD DAY Oct. 25 3340 Ga. Highway 16 West 3 p.m.-6:30 p.m. Monticello This free event will cover a variety of topics related to equine forage, including equine nutrition, forage systems, weed control and demonstrations. There will be a sponsored dinner, during which the Conservationist of the Year Award will be given. For more information or to make a reservation, contact the Jasper County Extension Office at 706-468-6479 by noon on Oct. 24. GEORGIA GROWN SYMPOSIUM TO PROVIDE MARKETING TIPS Nov 8-9 Marriott City Center Macon Whether you’re a grower, retailer, distributor, or institution this symposium has speakers and topics you need to hear! This event will focus on the production, distribution and consumer side of food products as part of the state’s Georgia Grown marketing program. Speakers will cover topics including finance, food safety, contracts/licensing, regulations, legal liabilities and insurance issues, economic development and accessing institutional buyers, like schools. Pre-registration is required to attend. Visit http://georgiagrownsymposium.eventbrite.com to register and access a list of speakers. The registration deadline is Friday, Oct. 26. Make hotel arrangements directly with the Macon Marriott City Center at 478-621-5300. Your room costs only $89 if you mention you're with the Georgia Grown group. Contact Margaret Lisi at margaret.lisi@georgiagrown.com for more information. ANNUAL WILD HOG AND DEER HUNT Oct. 26-27 East entrance off Highway 121/23 Okefenokee NWR A total of 40 permits will be awarded for this hunt, including 10 reserved for disabled hunters in wheelchairs. The hunt is for deer (either sex, limit is two per day) and feral hogs (either sex, no limit). Hunters are required to use shotgun slugs or muzzleloaders only; buckshot is not permitted. Deer taken during this hutn to not count against the state limit, and a special refuge tag will be provided at checkout for each deer taken. All hunters must possess a valid Georgia hunting license. Permits are $12.50 and will be issued on a first-come, first-served basis at the Okefenokee Shop area beginning at 4 a.m. each day of the hunt. For more information call 912-496-7836. HAWKINSVILLE HARVEST FEST/PIGS & PRODUCE BARBECUE CONTEST Oct. 26 & 27 Courthouse Square Hawkinsville Better Hometown of Hawkinsville will host the annual Harvest Fest featuring the Pigs and Produce barbecue competition, an official contest sanctioned by the Georgia Barbecue Association. Along with some great professional barbecue teams and some very interesting ancillary categories, Hawkinsville will host two very unique events at this festival: The first ever Georgia State Boiled Peanut Championship sponsored by Hardy Farms Peanuts and the Old vs. New Faceoff. The head-to-head Old vs. New Faceoff contest will be held on the courthouse square in downtown Hawkinsville between barbecue legend Myron Mixon of Jack’s Old South and his son, Michael Mixon of Jack’s New South. Entrants in the Boiled Peanut Championship must use peanuts provided by Hardy Farms, must cook the peanuts on site and must present a sample for judging at the specified judging time. Entry fee for the Boiled Peanut Championship is $25. The GBA contest is open to GBA registered competitors. Fees $85 in each of three categories: Ribs, pulled pork and pork loin. There are also four ancillary contests at the event. The others are: Chicken, Brunswick stew, barbecue sauce and people’s choice. The fees for those contests are also $25 each. Visit http://www.hawkinsvilleharvestfest.com for more information.

Leadership Alert page 5 of 7 COMMERCIAL MEAT GOAT BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT EVENT Oct. 29 Boggs Rural Live Center, 4279 Quaker Rd. Keysville This free event, which runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., includes a farm demonstration and is designed to provide information for potential business owners in the meat goat industry. The event includes a hands-on goat production management session, a survey of applicable USDA programs, information on market accessibility and profitability and supply chain management information. For more information, contact Bryan Zulko at Bryan.Zulko@ga.usda.gov or Deborah Callahan at Deborah.Callahan@ga.usda.gove or call 706-546-2162. GEORGIA FARM BUREAU DISTRICT ANNUAL MEETINGS Oct. 30 8th District South Ga. Technical College 7 p.m. Americus Nov. 1 4th District Greene County High School 7 p.m. Greensboro Nov. 8 6th District Poplar Spgs. North Bapt. Ch. 7p.m. Dublin Contact your county Farm Bureau office for more information. These meetings are for Farm Bureau members only and are not open to the general public. GA. TOBACCO COMMISSION SEEKS NOMINATIONS FOR BOARD The Georgia Department of Agriculture (GDA) is accepting nominations for three Georgia Tobacco Commission board positions. The commission’s farmer-funded programs of research, promotion and education are authorized by the Georgia Agricultural Commodities Promotion Act. All tobacco producers are eligible to submit nominations or to be nominated. The terms are for three years, and nominees must be willing to attend several board meetings per year. The deadline for submitting nominations is Oct. 31. Appointments will be made by the commission’s ex officio members. Geographic representation will be considered when making appointments. Nominations can be made by filling out a Nominee Information Form available at Farm Service Agency (FSA) offices. Send completed applications via email to: marcia.crowley@agr.georgia.gov. Forms may also be mailed to: Georgia Department of Agriculture, Room 328, 19 MLK Jr. Drive, SW, Atlanta, GA 30334 or faxed to 404-656-9380. Please note this is a change from how the nominating procedure was done in the past. Please direct questions to the GDA Commodities Promotion Division at 404-656-3678. GFB TAKING HAY CONTEST ENTRIES Georgia Farm Bureau members who grow Bermuda grass hay are encouraged to enter the GFB 2012 Quality Hay Contest. Hay entered in the contest will be tested at the University of Georgia testing lab using the Relative Forage Quality (RFQ) test, which predicts fiber digestibility and likely animal intake of hay. Contest entry forms are available at county Farm Bureau offices or online at http://www.gfb.org/commodities/hay_contest.html. Producers may enter more than one sample. Entry fees are $15 per entry to cover the cost of the lab tests. Oct. 31 is the deadline to enter. Contest participants will receive a detailed copy of their hay analysis and receive a free listing in the GFB Hay & Litter Directory if they choose. Winners will be announced at the GFB Hay Committee meeting on Dec. 3 during the annual GFB Convention on Jekyll Island. Prizes will be awarded for the top five places. Contact Joe McManus at 1-800-342-1196 for more information.

Leadership Alert page 6 of 7 GFB TAKING LISTINGS FOR HAY & LITTER DIRECTORY GFB members with hay or poultry litter for sale are invited to list their farm in the 2013 GFB Quality Hay & Litter Directory. The directory will be printed in late November. Producers should complete a form and send to the GFB office in Macon along with a check for $10 for each listing. Checks should be made out to Georgia Farm Bureau. Oct. 31 is the deadline to submit listings. Because this directory is used for the entire year, producers should include normal and projected production of round and square bales they anticipate selling. Poultry litter can be listed on the same form. Directories are distributed to all county Farm Bureau offices, county Extension offices, the Georgia Cattlemen's Association, cattle producers, dairy producers, horse owners, directory participants, and at the Sunbelt Expo and the annual GFB convention. The directory is also listed on the GFB website. Forms for the directory are available at your local Farm Bureau office or on our website http://www.gfb.org. Contact Joe McManus at 1-800-342-1196 for more information. NRCS ACCEPTING EQIP APPLICATIONS Applications for Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) applications are due by Nov. 2 to be considered for funding in fiscal year 2013. Applications can be taken at all NRCS offices and USDA Service Centers. EQIP is a voluntary program that funds conservation practices based on state identified natural resource concerns, such as forestry, grazing, soil erosion, water conservation and water quality. There are about 60 EQIP conservation practices including, but not limited to: pasture and hayland planting, heavy use areas, waste storage facilities, terracing, pest management, tree planting, organic crop assistance, and wildlife habitat management. This list will vary based on locally prioritized conservation practices. EQIP provides technical and financial assistance to landowners to voluntarily address soil, water and related natural resource concerns on private lands. Conservation plans must be developed for the entire area that will be included in the EQIP contract. More information on NRCS conservation programs can be found at http://www.ga.nrcs.usda.gov/ under programs. THE ROYAL ALPACA CHALLENGE Nov. 3-4 Georgia International Horse Park Conyers This free, family oriented event brings alpaca owners from across the US to compete in the show ring for cash prizes! Fiber arts demonstrations, vendors offering all things alpaca including those luxurious, hypo-allergenic, sweaters, hats, vests, yarns and more and a Silent Auction filled with treasures for all ages make this an excitingly diverse event for the whole family. Anyone interested in this unique fiber animal have an opportunity to learn about raising alpacas directly from the owners. Fiber arts organizations, weaving guilds and like organizations will enjoy. Adults and children delight in meeting the gentle alpacas! For more information, visit http://www.RoyalAlpacaChallenge.com. AG, ENGINEERING AND NATURAL RESOURCES CAREER FAIR AT UGA Nov. 7 UGA Tate Student Center Noon – 4 p.m. Athens The University of Georgia is looking for companies needing a few good hires or summer interns. Visit http://georgiafaces.caes.uga.edu/?public=viewStory&pk_id=4516 for more information. Companies that want to register for the fair should visit career.uga.edu/hireuga or email LeAnn Golob at leann@uga.edu.

Leadership Alert page 7 of 7 DHS ACCEPTING COMMENTS ON E-VERIFY The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has published a notice of information collection regarding the E-Verify program. The purpose is to obtain comments from the public and affected agencies regarding items listed in the notice, specifically the estimated public burden and associated response time of E-Verify and methods to minimize the burden of the collection of information on those utilizing the system. Comments are due by Nov. 13 via email at uscisfrcomment@dhs.gov and must include OMB Control Number 1615-0092 in the subject box. Comments may also be submitted via the Federal eRulemaking Portal Web site at http://www.regulations.gov/ under e-Docket ID number USCIS–2007-0023. Further instructions within the Federal Register notice are available at http://tinyurl.com/8uzs39l. GFB TAKING ENTRIES FOR EXCELLENCE IN TEACHING AG AWARD The Georgia Excellence in Teaching About Agriculture Award is an opportunity to recognize teachers who actively engage students in learning about agriculture. County Farm Bureaus may nominate one teacher in their county for the state award, which includes $500 cash and up to $1,500 in expenses to attend the 2013 National Ag in the Classroom Conference, to be held June 25-28 in Minneapolis. The state winner will also be invited to present his or her program at the GFB Educational Leadership Conference on March 16, 2013. The deadline to enter is Nov. 16, 2012. For more information, contact GFB Ag in the Classroom Coordinator Donna Rocker at 478-474-0679, ext. 5365 or dhrocker@gfb.org.