Author Archives: John Holcomb

National Peanut Board Resolution Honors Farmer Armond Morris

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ATLANTA – During the February meeting of the National Peanut Board (NPB), the Board voted unanimously to approve a resolution honoring Georgia peanut farmer and industry advocate Armond Morris upon his retirement from the Georgia Peanut Commission (GPC).

The resolution acknowledged that Morris has spent over 50 years managing a successful peanut farm; devoted substantial time and efforts to the peanut industry as an influential spokesperson, advocate and leader for peanut farmers on a state, national and international level; and served on the GPC with honor and distinction for over 40 years, including over 20 years of service as chairman.

During his tenure as GPC chairman, Morris led pivotal efforts to ensure that the U.S. peanut industry remained competitive against imports and paving the way for the significant subsequent expansion and growth of the U.S. peanut industry. Additionally, Morris has earned the respect and admiration of his colleagues and peers through his dedicated commitment to the peanut industry and diligent representation of the vital needs and challenges of peanut farmers.

The Board recognized Morris for his many years of dedicated support and invaluable service to the peanut industry as well as his significant leadership in supporting and strengthening the U.S. peanut industry. Further, the Board offered profound gratitude and congratulations to Morris.

The resolution was adopted on Feb. 17, 2022 and signed by Casey Cox, a fellow Georgia peanut farmer and NPB secretary.

Jon Huffmaster set to retire from Georgia Farm Bureau

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Following a 40-year career of service to Georgia Farm Bureau members, volunteers, and staff, Jon Huffmaster has announced his retirement effective January 28, 2022.

Huffmaster, who started with Farm Bureau in Field Services staff as a field representative trainee in March 1982 and rose to director of the GFB Legislative Department, most recently has served as GFB Corporate Secretary and Chief Administrative Officer.

“Jon not only has years of outstanding service to the Georgia Farm Bureau community but has provided strategic leadership through the important role of building relationships in Atlanta and Washington, D.C., and has continued to provide valuable counsel to the board and staff through complex times,” said GFB President Tom McCall.  “I want to publicly thank Jon for his service and dedication to serving our members and helping grow the value of Farm Bureau membership.”

Huffmaster was an honor graduate of ABAC in 1978 and earned his bachelor’s degree in ag economics from the University of Georgia in 1980.  While at UGA he was a member of Ag Hill Council, Alpha Zeta honorary ag fraternity, and served as an officer in the Alpha Gamma Rho agricultural fraternity.

McCall said, “I first met Jon when he and I attended ABAC together and then had the good fortune to be a fraternity brother with him at UGA.”

“Those of us who know Jon personally admire him not only for his agribusiness and policy efforts, but also for his personal lifetime values as a devoted husband, father and grandfather. I wish Jon and his family well and am confident that Farm Bureau will continue to benefit from his valued leadership. We will miss his institutional knowledge and candid opinions on issues,” McCall added.

About Georgia Farm Bureau

Georgia Farm Bureau is a membership-based, nonprofit organization dedicated to providing a voice for farmers and families involved in agriculture. With 263,000 members and offices in virtually every county across the state of Georgia, it is the state’s largest farm organization. GFB offers leadership and assistance, farm product promotion and legislative representation to ensure Georgia’s farming future.

Becoming a Georgia Farm Bureau member helps support local farmers and ensures Georgians continue to have access to locally grown, high-quality food.

Sunbelt Ag Expo Is Back!

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After having to cancel the 2020 show the Sunbelt Agricultural Exposition will celebrate its 43rd Anniversary show October 19-21, 2021. Over 1,200 exhibitors will display and demonstrate products and welcome thousands of visitors to the 100 acre show site.
Crowned as North America’s Premier Farm Show® and the largest Farm Show in America with field demonstrations, the Sunbelt Ag Expo brings together all segments of agribusiness including farmers, educators, policy-makers, ag-enthusiasts and families.  All attending the show will see the latest innovation and technology that the agriculture industry has to offer.
A highlight of the show is the naming of the Swisher Sunbelt Expo Southeastern Farmer of the Year.  After an intensive judging process, ten state winners attend the show to learn who will be selected as the overall winner.
Also, the 2021 Sunbelt Expo will be the site of John Deere’s first public unveiling of the new CP770 cotton picker for the North American market as part of the company’s third generation of round-bale cotton harvesters.
Education is the key component of the show with over 300 seminars and demonstrations offered over the 3-day event.  These seminars and demonstrations are taught in exhibit areas for beef, dairy, poultry, forestry, pond management, equine and cattle management.  Farmers and ranchers attending gain beneficial knowledge on the latest in cutting edge techniques from industry leaders and university specialists.  The Expo works with 21 different education sponsors to host a strong seminar and demo schedule.  These education sponsors include major universities and colleges with six of these having permanent exhibit buildings on-site.   The Expo will feature Youth Educational Challenges sponsored by Country Financial for 6th-12th graders as a competitive and fun opportunity for students to demonstrate their knowledge in five different content areas. Additionally, an Ag Mechanics contest sponsored by Farm Credit Associations of Georgia will be offered for students. New this year, the Advocacy in Action contest sponsored by Georgia Farm Bureau will be held for high school and college students with a particular interest in ag policy, law, and communication.
The Sustainable Living Area focuses on topics for the specialty gardener.  Flint River Fresh, created by the Flint River Soil & Water Conservation District (FRSWCD) and run by Frenando Jackson, “Farmer Fredo,” will organize the display that attracts hobby gardeners and enthusiasts alike.   A bounty of information on gardening tips, tools and more will be offered in the Georgia Metals Pavilion and in the demonstration garden.
A crowd pleaser is the 600-acre research farm’s field demonstrations. These demos showcase harvesting and tillage equipment for cotton, peanuts, corn, soybeans and hay. As in the past, cotton will be harvested during the show!  In addition, hay demos will include all facets of hay harvesting from cutting to baling and will provide visitors the opportunity to see 80 different types of hay harvesting equipment run in a true farm setting.
Expo is honored to have Virginia as the 2021 Spotlight State.  Be sure to visit experience Virginia agriculture…where it all began!
Chevrolet, an nine-year partner of Sunbelt Agricultural Exposition, will feature the Chevy Truck Tour with multiple consumer engagement stations and on-site product staff. The stations will highlight the versatility of Silverado, including capability, technology, and design. Engagements include a live demonstration that proves the strength and durability of the Silverado’s Durabed and a casting challenge.”
The Expo always features an array of aromas compliments of the delicious food sold within the grounds during the show.  In addition, many demonstration areas, including the Georgia Ag Building, the Aquaponics display, the Georgia Peanut Commission building and the Georgia Grown Marketplace within the Family Living Building, host segments throughout the day with chefs and food enthusiasts alike.  Be sure to stop by for a sample of some scrumptious treats.
There’s never a dull moment during the 3-day show and attendees will find there is something for the entire family.  There is a daily rolling Antique Tractor Parade, the American Grand Finals Stock Dog Trials (the largest field of competition in recent Expo history), and even a Cow Milking Contest. Add in rural lifestyle fun, truck, tractor and ATV test drives, and the venue is perfect for rural enthusiasts.
Chip Blalock, Show Director, says, “The Sunbelt Expo is an unbelievable showcase of rural living blanketed with agriculture’s newest ideas and technologies. Its 3-days of fun, education and dreaming about agriculture’s future as we team together to feed, clothe and house a growing population around the world.”
The Sunbelt Ag Expo is open Tuesday through Thursday, October 19-21, from 8:30 AM to 5:00 (T,W) and 4:00 (Th).  Admission at the gate is $10 per person per day. Advanced and discount tickets can be purchased online beginning August 1.

2020 Georgia Quality Cotton Award Winners Announced

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Tifton, GA

The 2020 Georgia Quality Cotton Awards were presented at the 2021 Georgia Cotton Commission Virtual Annual Meeting on January 27, 2021. The awards are co-sponsored by the Georgia Cotton Commission and Bayer Crop Science/Deltapine and administered by the University of Georgia Cotton Team. Dr. Yangxuan Liu from the UGA Cotton Team conducted the analysis and presented the 2020 Georgia Quality Cotton awards at the annual meeting.

The purpose of the awards is to recognize producers and ginners of high-quality cotton fiber and to identify their general management practices for the benefit of other growers. The producers and their gins received a plaque, and the winning producers received a $500 cash award. The UGA County Extension Agent for each winner was also recognized as they work closely with the farmers during the growing season.

The awards are given in each of these three cotton acreage categories: 1) less than 500 acres, 2) 500 to 1,000 acres, and 3) greater than 1,000 acres within the four regions of the state. Winners in these categories are determined by the loan value and premiums of their cotton. The winners’ excellent achievements are due largely to their management practices and expertise. The sponsors of this program congratulate the following winners:

Region 1

· Less than 500 acres

o Grower – Chad Hawkins, Wilcox County

o Ginner — Sconyers Gin and Warehouse Company

o Nominated by – John Elec Bennett

· 500-1000 acres

o Grower – Wendell Hobby, Turner County

o Ginner – Sconyers Gin and Warehouse Company

o Nominated by – Guy Hancock

· 1000+ acres

o Grower – Wilson Keene, Dodge County

o Ginner – Sconyers Gin and Warehouse Company

o Nominated by – Greg Slaughter

Region 2

· Less than 500 acres

o Grower — Derek Davis, Washington County

o Ginner — Midville Warehouse, Inc.

o Nominated by – Rocky Tanner

· 500-1000 acres

o Grower – Charles E. Wilson Farms, Jenkins County

o Ginner — Midville Warehouse, Inc.

o Nominated by – Katie Burch

· 1000+ acres

o Grower – Sandeford Farms, Burke County

o Ginner – Midville Warehouse, Inc.

o Nominated by – Peyton Sapp

Region 3

· Less than 500 acres

o Grower – Bobby Exum, Lowndes County

o Ginner – B.C.T. Gin Co., Inc. Quitman

o Nominated by – Andy Carter

· 500-1000 acres

o Grower – Ben Strickland, Lanier County

o Ginner – B.C.T. Gin Co., Inc. Quitman

o Nominated by — Andy Carter

· 1000+ acres

o Grower – Patrick Farms – Kerry Patrick and Andrew Patrick, Brooks County

o Ginner – B.C.T. Gin Co., Inc. Quitman

o Nominated by – Michasia Dowdy

Region 4

· Less than 500 acres

o Grower – Tim Bowen, Miller County

o Ginner – Cloverleaf Gin, Inc.

o Nominated by — Cindy Meadows

· 500-1000 acres

o Grower – Creek Bank Farms, Miller and Early County

o Ginner – Cloverleaf Gin, Inc.

o Nominated by – Cindy Meadows

· 1000+ acres

o Grower – John Bridges Farm, Decatur and Seminole County

o Ginner – Cloverleaf Gin, Inc.

o Nominated by – Cindy Meadows

The final award given was the overall Best Cotton Award. This was awarded to the Georgia cotton producer with highest loan value and premium. The 2020 Best Cotton Award went to Wilcox County’s Chad Hawkins with a loan value of 56.34 cents/lb and a premium of 4.34 cents/lb.

Legislative Recap 2019

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Agricultural Bills Passed During 2019 Session

HB 35: Poultry Diagnostic Center Tax Exemption
Reps. Watson, Dunahoo, Rhodes, LaRiccia, Jasperse, and Corbett
This bill will create a state sales tax exemption specifically for supplies and tools of the Veterinary Poultry Diagnostic Labs used for disease monitoring services. Given the unique structure of the Lab, this bill addresses an unusual circumstance causing the state to tax its own service.
Passed the House on 2/21/19. Passed the Senate on 3/18/19.

HB 213: Georgia Hemp Farming Act
Reps. Corbett, McCall, Pruett, Gilliard, Dickey, and Wilson
This bill is the Georgia Hemp Farming Act, which promotes on a preliminary basis, exploration of the cultivation and processing of hemp and the potential to open new commercial markets for farmers and businesses through the sale of hemp products.
Passed the House on 2/27/19. Passed Senate on 3/26/19. Senate Agreed to House Amendment on 4/2/19.

HB 223: Emergency Reporting Requirements Exemptions
Reps. Dickey, McCall, England, Dubnik, Smith.
This bill provides for an exemption to reporting emissions from routine agricultural and pesticide application practices, because they are not considered an emergency. This bill will also make Georgia consistent with federal law regarding emergency reporting requirements.
Passed the House on 3/5/19. Passed the Senate on 3/18/19.

HB 446: Hurricane Michael Tax Credit Transfers
Reps. Knight, Rutledge, Kelly, and Harrell
This bill clarifies language in the income tax credit for timber producers from the special session in November. The timber income tax credits are refundable and transferable, but once those tax credits that are transferred, they are no longer refundable and shall not the eligible for transfer again.
Passed the House on 3/5/19. Passed Senate on 3/28/19. House Agreed to Senate Substitute on 4/2/19.

HB 501: Development of Mariculture
Reps. Petrea, Hogan, Stephens, Williams, Sainz, and Gilliard
This bill develops the mariculture in the state and also creates rules and regulations for commercial shellfish farming in the state of Georgia through work between the Department of Agriculture and Department of Natural Resources.
Passed the House on 3/5/19. Passed Senate the on 3/18/19.

HB 512: Propane Commodity Commission
Reps. Watson, Holmes, McCall, Mathis, Dickey, and Rhodes
This bill creates an Agricultural Commodity Commission for Propane. The House used this bill as a vehicle to attach language that gives the Department of Agriculture the authority to write rules and regulations relating to soil amendments and fertilizer.
Passed the House on 3/7/19. Passed Senate on 3/25/19. Senate Agreed to House Amendment on 4/2/19.

SB 2: EMC Authorization to Provide Broadband Services
Sens. Gooch, Wilkinson, Harper, Hill, Kirk, and Albers
Senate Bill 2 authorizes electric membership corporations (EMC) to establish or partner with another entity to provide broadband services to its members independent from its electrical services. This bill will also allow for EMCs to apply for federal grants to provide broadband.
Passed the Senate on 3/7/19.Passed on 3/28/19. House Agreed to Senate Amendment on 4/2/19.

SB 17: Telephone Cooperatives to Provide Broadband Services
Sens. Gooch, Wilkinson, Harper, Hill, Kirk, and Albers
This bill will authorize telephone cooperatives and their broadband affiliates to provide broadband services to its members, as well as, apply for federal grants to provide broadband.
Passed the Senate on 2/20/19. Passed the House on 3/21/19.

SB 37: Mutual Agreements with Lending Institutions
Sens. Ligon, Kennedy, and Jordan
This bill would require a person who wants to modify, alter, cancel, revoke, or rescind a promise, contract, agreement or commitment must do so in writing and will not be allowed to do so verbally.
Passed the Senate on 3/1/2019. Passed House on 3/25/19. Senate Agreed to House Substitute on 3/29/19.

SB 65: Title Transfers for Motor Vehicles
Sens. Harper, Gooch, Martin, Anderson, Ligon, and Mullis
This bill exempts the ad valorem tax fee on motor vehicles that have a transfer of title between legal entities owned by the same person.
Passed the Senate on 2/27/19. Passed House on 3/26/19. Senate Agreed to House Substitute on 3/28/19.

SB 66: Streamlining Wireless Facilities and Antennas Act
Sens. Gooch, Ginn, Lucas, Dugan, Cowsert, and Miller
This bill enacts the Streamlining Wireless Facilities and Antennas Act, which provides for the deployment of wireless broadband in the public right of way.
Passed the Senate on 2/25/19. Passed House on 3/25/19.

SB 75: Veterinary Practices Act Clean-up
Reps. Black, Wilkinson, Harper, Anderson, Burke, and Karinshak
Senate Bill 75 relates to the State Board of Veterinary Medicine, so as to provide a professional health program for impaired veterinarians.
Passed the Senate on 2/20/19. Passed House on 3/26/19. Senate Agreed to House Substitute on 3/28/19.

Farm Monitor Moved to GPB Knowledge Channel During March

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During the month of March, GPB will be having a pledge drive to raise funds. Due to this, the Farm Monitor will not be airing on the regular GPB channels, but will instead be airing on their GPB Knowledge channel starting March 2 and ending March 23.

Below is a list of of where you can find the GPB Knowledge channel throughout Georgia.

  • Atlanta – WGTV-DT/Channel 8.3 or Comcast Channel 246
  • Albany – WABW-DT/Channel 14.3
  • Augusta – WCES-DT/Channel 20.3
  • Chatsworth – WNGH-DT/Channel 18.3
  • Columbus -WJSP-DT/Channel 28.3
  • Dawson – WACS-DT/Channel 25.3
  • Macon – WMUM-DT/Channel 29.3
  • Savannah – WVAN-DT/Channel 9.3
  • Waycross -WXGA-DT/Channel 8.3

If you’re still not sure or want to be safe, be sure to check with your local cable provider to find the exact channel.