GFB TO HOST FIRST OF FIVE AG FORECAST MEETINGS

Keynote speaker Nowell Berreth will give an update on current farm labor issues and University of Georgia economists will provide the annual economic outlook for agriculture and agribusiness at the 2012 Georgia Ag Forecast, presented by UGA’s College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Georgia Farm Bureau and the Georgia Department of Agriculture.

Berreth, a partner with law firm Alston + Bird LLP, works frequently on matters concerning various agricultural statutes, including the Packers & Stockyards Act, the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act and the Capper-Volstead Act. He is a past chair of the State Bar of Georgia’s Agricultural Law Section and serves on the advisory board of the National Agricultural Law Center at the University of Arkansas Law School. He leads Alston + Bird’s agribusiness practice team.

The Ag Forecast meetings are scheduled for Jan. 23, 2012, at the Georgia Farm Bureau home office in Macon, Jan. 24 at the UGA Tifton campus conference center, Jan. 25 at the Neesmith Lane Center in Statesboro, Jan. 26 at the Georgia Mountains Center in Gainesville and Jan. 27 at the Carroll County Ag Center in Carrollton.

Each session will feature an overview of the coming year and a regional speaker will discuss farm labor issues. At the Macon meeting, the featured speakers will be UGA Extension Economist Dr. Nathan Smith and American Farm Bureau Senior Director of Congressional Relations Mary Kay Thatcher.

GFB Legislative Director Jon Huffmaster will speak at the other four meetings. UGA’s George Shumaker will give economic outlook presentations at the Tifton and Statesboro meetings. Dr. John McKissick will give the presentation at the Gainesville meeting and Dr. Curt Lacy will give the presentation at the Carrollton meeting.

Shumaker and McKissick are professors emeritus with the UGA Center for Agribusiness and Economic Development. Lacy is a livestock economist and associate professor in the Agricultural and Applied Economics Department at the UGA Tifton campus.

Each meeting will begin with coffee and on-site registration at 9 a.m., and seminars begin at 10 a.m. A networking luncheon will take place at noon. Participants will receive a copy of the 2012 Ag Forecast book, which provides a detailed analysis of each major commodity produced in Georgia. The deadline to register is 5 p.m. Jan. 19, 2012. Limited onsite registrations will be accepted on a first come, first serve basis. Registration is $30 for individuals and $200 for a table of eight. For more information or to register visit http://www.georgiaagforecast.com.

December 28, 2011 www.gfb.org Vol. 29 No. 52

Leadership Alert page 2 of 6 REPORT: LIGHTSQUARED BROADBAND SIGNAL INTERFERES WITH GPS

A joint report released by the Department of Defense and the Department of Transportation concluded that a nationwide 4G broadband Internet signal being developed by Virginia-based LightSquared interferes with global positioning system (GPS) receivers. The departments conducted tests on proposed technical solutions to navigational GPS receivers, and the preliminary results indicated that LightSquared’s signal interferes with 75 percent of GPS receivers, including those used for aviation and some Department of Defense applications.

The tests did not include precision GPS receivers like those used in agriculture, for which no technical solution has been developed.

Many farmers rely on GPS receivers for precision agriculture. GPS receivers are used for mapping field boundaries, roads and irrigation systems and precision planting, as well as for targeting the application of fertilizer and crop protection chemicals. The disruption of GPS signals could reduce farm profitability by raising production costs.

Multiple agricultural organizations, including the American Farm Bureau Federation, have raised concerns that LightSquared’s high-powered transmitters could disrupt those GPS systems.

AFBF maintains that while high-speed broadband services like that offered by LightSquared have the potential to bring a variety of benefits to rural communities, including economic development, improved education and health services, those benefits should not come at the expense of losing GPS. DOWDY TAKES SECOND IN NATIONAL CORN YIELD CONTEST

Lowndes County corn grower Randy Dowdy took second place in two categories of the National Corn Growers Association 2011 Corn Yield Contest.

Dowdy’s plot of Pioneer P1814HR corn produced 352.3 bushels per acre in the irrigated category, second to Double SA Farms of Hart, Texas, which produced 370.4 bushels per acre.

In the no-till/strip till irrigated category, Dowdy’s stand of Pioneer P2023HR corn yielded 363.5 bushels per acre, second behind David Hula of Charles City, Va., who produced a yield of 429 bushels per acre.

On the state level, Dowdy won both of those categories. In the irrigated category, Eric Taft of Ware County was second at 299.7 bushels per acre and Jonathan Hitchcock of Washington County was third at 293.9.

In the no-till/strip till irrigated category, Teel Warbington of Warbington Farms in Dooly County was second at 280.3 bushels per acre, while Mike Newberry of Hillside Farms in Early County was third at 274.5.

John Lowrey Farms in Floyd County claimed first place in Georgia in the no-till/strip till non-irrigated category, producing 242.2 bushels per acre. Jane Smith of Dawson County was second at 236 and Jerry Smith, also of Dawson County was third at 232.

The contest, in its 47th year, drew a record-high 8,425 entries in six production categories. The national and state winners will be honored at the 2012 Commodity Classic in Nashville, Tenn., in March.

Leadership Alert page 3 of 6 DEAL APPOINTS TWO TO GEORGIA RURAL DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL

Gov. Nathan Deal has appointed T. Charlton Rogers and Tom Thompson Jr. to the Georgia Rural Development Council.

Rogers has been an agent with New York Life and NYLife Securities Inc. for the past 16 years. He serves on the board of directors for Glennville Bank, Fellowship of Christian Athletes and Pinewood Christian Academy. He serves as lay leader for his church and is active in his community. He was awarded Tattnall County Citizen of the Year in 2009. Rogers earned a bachelor's in Education from Georgia Southern University.

Thompson is the president and CEO of Tom Thompson Co. Inc. and Eatonton Dairy Farms. He is chairman of the Putnam County Commission, the Tri-County Electric Membership Corporation and building committee chairman for the Eatonton First Baptist Church. He is a former member of the board of directors of Georgia Milk Producers, Atlanta Dairies and the National Milk Producers Federation. He was awarded Atlanta Business Chronicle's “Best Divestiture of the Year” award in 1986. Thompson earned a bachelor's degree in Finance and Accounting from Emory University. NRCS TAKING APPLICATIONS FOR CONSERVATION PROGRAM

Producers interested in the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) should submit applications to their local NRCS office by Jan. 13, 2012 in order to be considered during the first ranking period of 2012 .

CSP is offered in all 50 states, and the Pacific and Caribbean areas through continuous sign-ups.

The program provides many conservation benefits including improvement of water and soil quality, wildlife habitat enhancements and adoption of conservation activities that address the effects of climate change. Eligible lands include cropland, pastureland, rangeland, nonindustrial private forest land and agricultural land under the jurisdiction of an Indian tribe.

A CSP self-screening checklist is available to help potential applicants determine if CSP is suitable for their operation. The checklist highlights basic information about CSP eligibility requirements, contract obligations and potential payments. It is available online at http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/national/programs/financial/csp or at local NRCS offices.

As part of the CSP application process, applicants will work with NRCS field personnel to complete the resource inventory using a Conservation Measurement Tool (CMT). The CMT determines the conservation performance for existing and new conservation activities.

The applicant’s conservation performance will be used to determine eligibility, ranking and payments.

In 2010 alone, nearly 21,000 applicants enrolled in CSP, putting additional conservation on 25.2 million acres, about the size of the state of Kentucky, to improve water and soil quality, enhance wildlife habitat and address the effects of climate change. For more information, visit the Georgia NRCS Web site at http://www.ga.nrcs.usda.gov, and connect with an NRCS office near you.

Leadership Alert page 4 of 6 NOMINATIONS OPEN FOR GEORGIA YOUNG PEANUT FARMER AWARD The Georgia Peanut Commission is accepting nominations for its Outstanding Georgia Young Peanut Farmer Award. The winner will be announced at the Georgia Peanut Farm Show on Jan. 19 in Albany. Applications must be submitted by Jan. 3, 2012, to the GPC office. The application is available online at http://www.gapeanuts.com or by contacting Joy Carter at 229-386-3690 or joycarter@gapeanuts.com. SOUTHEAST REGIONAL FRUIT AND VEGETABLE CONFERENCE Jan. 5-8, 2012 International Trade and Convention Center Savannah Conference workshops will focus on improving crop production and the latest in produce trends as well as the latest legislative updates from Washington and Atlanta. For information or to register, visit http://www.seregionalconference.com. GEORGIA AGRITOURISM CONFERENCE Jan. 5-6, 2012 Westin Hotel Savannah Owners and operators from the state’s newest, oldest and most successful agritourism destinations will meet for this conference, held in conjunction with the 2012 Southeast Regional Fruit & Vegetable Conference at the Savannah International Trade & Convention Center. Participants will get a professional development experience and receive presentations from an array of speakers, business-to-business prospects, networking opportunities, trade show access and interaction with industry leaders. More information can be found on the GAA website: http://georgia-agritourism.org/conference/ NORTHEAST DISTRICT BEEF CATTLE SHORT COURSE Jan. 10, 2012 UGA Livestock Arena 9 a.m. Athens This one-day course will feature sessions on marketing options for cattle producers, calf nutrition, forage feeding and testing, bull and heifer selection and much more. Registration is $15 per participant, which includes a meal and instructional materials. Deadline to register is Jan. 5. For more information and to register, visit http://www.caes.uga.edu and search for Northeast Beef Cattle Short Course. 2nd ANNUAL FREEDOM GIANT MISCANTHUS FIELD DAY Jan. 10-11, 2012 Repreve Renewables Farm Soperton Those interested in learning about giant miscanthus will have a chance to interact with industry experts on giant miscanthus research and end uses, take field tours and see demonstrations. The event is open to the public but advance registration is required. To register, visit http://www.repreverenewables.com/fieldday. 36th ANNUAL GEORGIA PEANUT FARM SHOW Jan. 19, 2012 Albany Civic Center Albany This event offers farmers the chance to view the products and services of more than 75 exhibitors and attend marketing and production workshops with UGA peanut specialists. The show provides exhibitors with an opportunity to highlight their products or services to nearly 1,500 farmers from across the Southeast.

Leadership Alert page 5 of 6 2012 SOYBEAN/SMALL GRAIN EXPO Jan. 26, 2012 Georgia National Fairgrounds & Agricenter Perry The Expo will provide soybean and small grain producers with up-to-date marketing projections and the newest production techniques. The event will also feature presentations from UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences professors on climate variability, maximizing yields, world outlook for southern commodities and others. Pesticide credits are available. For more information, contact the Georgia/Florida Soybean Association at 706-542-3793. GEORIGA COTTON COMMISSION 5TH ANNUAL MEETING Feb. 1, 2012 UGA Tifton Campus Conference Center Tifton This sponsored event is free but registration is requested and features morning and afternoon cotton production workshops. Guest speakers included Southern Cotton Growers President Mike Tate, Cotton Board CEO Bill Gillon, Cotton Incorporated Fiber Quality Research Vice President Mike Watson and National Cotton Council Senior Director of Governmental Relations John Maguire. Late Registration will begin at 7:30 a.m. To register, visit http://www.ugatiftonconference.org between Dec. 1, 2011, and Jan. 18, 2012 or call 229-386-3416. For more information about the conference, email Richey Seaton at gactn@windstream.net or Karen Nikitopoulos at cotton@windstream.net or call 478-988-4235. UGA 20TH ANNUAL FOCUS ON EPD'S BULL SALE Feb. 2, 2012 UGA Livestock Instructional Arena Athens Sale begins at noon. For more information contact Dr. Ronnie Silcox at 706-542-9102 or rsilcox@uga.edu. OLD SOUTH FARM MUSEUM HOG KILLING DEMONSTRATION Feb. 4, 2012 Old South Farm Museum 8:30 a.m. Woodland This event will demonstrate how hogs were once harvested and the products made from them. Program includes a meat-cutting class and demonstrations on making various pork products. The fee to observe and receive free sausage is $12 per person. To participate in the workshop, gain hands-on experience and receive pork products, the fee is $35. Registration is required. For more information or to register, contact Paul Bulloch at 706-975-9136 or visit http://www.oldsouthfarm.com. ENTRIES BEING ACCEPTED FOR 2012 FLAVOR OF GEORGIA CONTEST Product registrations are being accepted for the Flavor of Georgia Food Product Contest. The contest is sponsored by the UGA Center for Agribusiness and Economic Development in collaboration with the Center of Innovation for Agribusiness, the office of Gov. Nathan Deal, the Georgia Department of Agriculture, the Georgia Agribusiness Council, Walton EMC and the UGA Department of Food Science and Technology. The deadline for entries is Feb. 10, 2012. Semifinalists will be announced in February. Final judging and the announcement of the winners in six food categories will be announced on March 13 during Georgia Ag Awareness Day festivites at the Georgia Depot in Atlanta. Contestants can register online at http://www.flavorofgeorgia.caes.uga.edu and save $10 off registration fees. For more information contact contest director Sharon Kane at 706-542-9809 or spkane@uga.edu.

Leadership Alert page 6 of 6 TIFTON BEEF CATTLE SHORT COURSE March 6, 2012 Tifton Bull Evaluation Center Irwinville Registration starts at 9 a.m. For more information contact Dr. Lawton Stewart at 706-542-1852 or lawtons@uga.edu or Patsie T. Cannon at 229-386-3683 or ptcannon@uga.edu. TIFTON PERFORMANCE TESTED BULL SALE March 7, 2012 Tifton Bull Evaluation Center Irwinville Sale begins at 12:30 p.m. For more information contact Dr. Ronnie Silcox at 706-542-9102 or rsilcox@uga.edu or Patsie T. Cannon at 229-386-3683 or ptcannon@uga.edu. 7TH RAY CITY OLD FASHION PLOW DAY March 17, 2012 Ray City Antique tractor show and plowing demonstration with antique tractors and mules and horses plowing in the field just like they did 100 years ago. Parade begins at 11 am and a plowing demonstration will follow. The event also features arts & crafts vendors, food vendors, fun and games for kids, bluegrass gospel concerts featuring the bluegrass gospel band, the Wauka Mountains Boys, a baking contest with prizes, frying pan toss contest, and much more. Free admission. Join us for a day of agricultural history. For more info contact Greg Harrell 229-237-3223. GA HEIFER EVALUATION &REPRODUCTIVE DEVELOPMENT (HERD) SALE April 24, 2012 Tifton Bull Evaluation Center Irwinville Sale begins at 12:30 p.m. Contact Dr. Lawton Stewart at 706-542-1852 or lawtons@uga.edu or Patsie T. Cannon at 229/386-3683 or ptcannon@uga.edu for more information. CALHOUN BEEF CATTLE REPRODUCTIVE MANAGEMENT WORKSHOP May 29, 2012 NW GA Research & Education Center Livestock Pavilion Calhoun Sale begins at 6 p.m. Contact Ted Dyer at 706-624-1403 or tgdyer@uga.edu or Phil Worley at 706/624-1398 - pworley@uga.edu for more information. GA HEIFER EVALUATION AND REPRODUCTIVE DEVELOPMENT (HERD) SALE May 30, 2012 NW Ga. Research & Education Center Livestock Pavilion Calhoun Sale begins at 12:30 p.m. For more information contact Ted Dyer at 706-624-1403 or tgdyer@uga.edu or Phil Worley at 706-624-1398 or pworley@uga.edu