Monthly Newsletter for Georgia Agribusiness Council Members
JULY 2019
GOV. KEMP DECLARES JULY AS SMART IRRIGATION MONTH
Atlanta, Georgia — Governor Brian Kemp has declared July 2019 as Smart Irrigation Month in Georgia. Smart Irrigation Month serves as the showcase month to promote the social, economic, and environmental benefits of and farmers’ commitment to the adoption of efficient irrigation technologies, and leading-edge products and services in agriculture, landscape, and turf irrigation.
 
Governor Kemp stated, “We are proud to recognize our farmers for their efforts in utilizing Smart Irrigation. Using the right amount of water in the right place at the right time enhances the productivity and quality of our Georgia Grown crops and preserves a precious resource for generations to come.”
 
Water is critically important to citizens and industries across the state of Georgia. New technologies have advanced irrigation methods to optimize water use. A dynamic collaboration of entities in Georgia has teamed up to spotlight Smart Irrigation tools, management practices, and the social and economic benefits derived from irrigated agriculture throughout the month of July to share the message of Georgia’s commitment to water stewardship.

Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Gary W. Black shared, “Georgia has been blessed with an abundance of natural resources that combine to make us Nature’s Favorite State, and our farmers know that keen conservation of these resources is vital to the continued success of our industry and economy as a whole. We applaud our farmers for staying ahead of the curve of environmental stewardship with their proactive implementation of smart irrigation methods.”

Georgia is nationally and internationally recognized for the efficient irrigation technologies developed by irrigation and precision agriculture scientists and researchers that have been tested, refined and adopted industry-wide.

Georgia’s farmers are utilizing water resources to produce high quality, safe, affordable and nutritious fresh food to meet our domestic and global market demands.

Smart Irrigation Month will celebrate our industry’s achievements and commitment to the sustainable use of available water resources.

For more information, visit smartirrigationgeorgia.com . Smart Irrigation Month is an initiative between the Georgia Agribusiness Council and several of our partners throughout agriculture in Georgia. To view the kickoff announcement from Governor Kemp, follow this link: https://vimeo.com/344686933
GAC INVOLVED WITH AGRICULTURE RECOVERY TASK FORCE
Georgia Agriculture Commissioner , Gary W. Black h as formed a Georgia Agriculture Recovery Task Force to build and implement a plan that will assist to efficiently manage the block grant process once USDA releases those funds to help Georgians devastated by Hurricane Michael. While, the length of time that the legislative process has taken has been frustrating to all who have been affected, Georgia should be proud of the proactive work being done by our Ag Commissioner, the Georgia Department of Agriculture, and the Office of Governor Kemp.

At this time, details and an exact timeline have not been given by Federal Authorities but Georgia stands ready to act immediately once the funds are released. We encourage all of our members who were hit by Hurricane Michael to proactively prepare for an upcoming sign-up period. We will release more details as they evolve so that our members can prepare as necessary.

More on the task force: The Georgia Agriculture Recovery Task Force includes both an Agriculture Operational Work-group and Technical Advisory Work-group to develop a Georgia Agricultural Disaster Recovery Plan utilizing USDA Block Grant funds. The participants have been engaged in assessing the agricultural losses and developing a recovery strategy proposal that farmers and producers can apply for utilizing the USDA block grant funding to help promote recovery and further build agricultural resilience in the state of Georgia.

This work group is comprised of representatives from the Governor’s office, Georgia Department of Agriculture, Georgia Agribusiness Council , University of Georgia, Georgia Farm Bureau, Georgia Poultry Federation, Georgia Bankers Association, Georgia Green Industry Association, Georgia Cattlemen's Association, Agriculture Commodity Commissions for Cotton and Peanut, Georgia Pecan Growers Association, and several other agribusiness leaders and producers.
GEORGIA FARMER AND GAC MEMBER ENTERS PARTNERSHIP WITH WRANGLER
From Georgia Association of Conservation Districts and originally AJC.
Marty McLendon, GACD Vice President and Chair of the Flint River Conservation District, is no stranger to the importance of utilizing conservation practices on his 8,800 acre commercial farm in Calhoun County, GA. In partnership with his local NRCS office, McLendon had assistance with the implementation of practices like cover crops, crop rotation, and conservation tillage which not only conserves natural resources but also improves production efficiency on his farm.
Only five cotton growers in the United States were given the opportunity to partner with Wrangler on their Wrangler Rooted Collection of jeans and t-shirts which honors producers who implement conservation practices. McLendon was one of the lucky five due to his diligence to stewardship of the land and soil health. Wrangler plans to source 100% of its cotton from farms using soil health practices by 2025.
EARLY BIRD TICKETS NOW AVAILABLE FOR 2019 HARVEST CELEBRATION
Join us for the 2019 Harvest Celebration on November 22 nd at the Cobb Galleria Centre, where country music star Jeff Carson will perform “ A Night of Country Greats ” featuring smash hits by artists such as Merle Haggard, Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash and more.

Carson, who has several top 10 hits of his own including “Butterfly Kisses”, “The Car”, and “Holdin’ on to Somethin’” and a number 1 on the U.S. Billboard Country Charts with “Not on Your Love”, will be sure to entertain the entire crowd as he and his band perform a tribute to the most iconic songs from many of the biggest legends in country music history. 

The GAC Harvest Celebration is key to the advocacy efforts of the Council, and we are very grateful for the support provided by our many members and industry friends. We hope to have you attend this first-class, engaging evening that you will want to share with friends, family and co-workers.

Early Bird tickets are now on sale! Take advantage of this promotion to be entered into a drawing for one of several great prizes!  These include: A one-night's stay on November 22 at the Renaissance Waverly Hotel or one of three Field of Dreams ticket books that give you a chance to win wonderful items during the Harvest Celebration. Click the button below or call the GAC office at 706-336-6830 to secure your tickets today.
SUNBELT AG EXPO FIELD DAY APPROACHING

 Who, What, When?
Field Day is once a year and it’s on Thursday July 25, 2019.
Everyone is invited!
It’s a half-day packed full of ag technology, the latest equipment, and techniques for successful farming in the southeast!

Field Day Schedule
RW Griffin Building
7:45 AM - Biscuit Breakfast, door prize registration, static exhibits
8:30 AM - Trams depart for field day tours
12 Noon - Trams return.  BBQ Lunch sponsored by Ameris Bank, Pennington Seed, and Agri-Supply.
Grand prize and door prize giveaways.
Prizes include:
  • Brown Rotary Mower
  • Shotgun
  • Titan/Goodyear Tire Gift Certificate
AG GEORGIA FARM CREDIT ANNOUNCES DISTRIBUTION OF OVER $12.5 MILLION TO BORROWERS
P erry, Ga. (June 20, 2019) – AgGeorgia Farm Credit is pleased to announce that over $12.5 million is being paid to borrowers of the cooperative, with checks expected to be delivered by the last week of June. The distribution comes after AgGeorgia’s Board of Directors already declared dividends of over $13.5 million in April with over $4 million of that paid in cash. In total for 2019, AgGeorgia has now distributed over $16.5 million in cash to the borrowers of the cooperative.

“We are extremely proud to be able to return our profits to our borrowers, particularly after a challenging 2018 for our farmers and much of the state,” said Guy Daughtrey, Chairman of the Board for AgGeorgia Farm Credit. “The board recognizes how important these distributions are to not only our member-borrowers, but also the economies of our rural communities.”

2019 marks the 31st consecutive year the cooperative has returned profits to its borrowers, with over $378 million in cash being paid out since 1988. 

The payout is a surplus revolvement from AgGeorgia’s 2009 and 2010 Patronage Refunds, and is divided between qualified and non-qualified surplus. Taxes were paid on the qualified surplus portions when declared in 2009/2010; however no taxes have been paid yet on the non-qualified portion. Borrowers will receive a 1099 in February of next year regarding income taxes due on this portion. 

About AgGeorgia Farm Credit
AgGeorgia Farm Credit is a lending cooperative owned by its over 4,500 member-borrowers, proud to have been helping Georgia grow for generations. AgGeorgia provides loans to full-time farmers, part-time farmers, and land buyers alike for land, farms, homes, equipment, livestock and operating expenses, and services such as leasing. AgGeorgia Farm Credit has 20 branches serving 79 counties in Georgia. It is part of the National Farm Credit System, a network of financial cooperatives established in 1916 to provide a dependable source of credit to farmers and rural America. For more information, visit www.aggeorgia.com .
AGRITRUST OF GEORGIA OFFERS REGIONAL SEMINARS

AgriTrust of Georgia is again pleased to offer the 2019 Regional Seminars “ Top-Ten Issues in Workers’ Compensation ”!  Now is the time to register to receive practical workers’ compensation information that will benefit you and your agribusiness clients. The 2019 seminars will feature best practices of pre-hire checklist, post-injury drug testing, claims reporting, communication with the injured employee, and much more! These seminars will also have AgriTrust’s defense attorneys and claims adjuster presenting information during the seminars, and all seminar presenters will be available to answer questions. Come and join AgriTrust for one and one-half hours of education, a complimentary meal, and interaction with other Fund members and agents. Fund members will receive premium credit for every business represented and insurance agents will receive 1 hour of continuing education credits. AgriTrust of Georgia provides a stable, affordable source of workers’ compensation insurance to the agribusiness industry. We encourage you to consider this proven program for your workers’ compensation insurance needs. For more information about AgriTrust of Georgia and these upcoming seminars. visit www.agritrust.biz or contact AgriTrust of Georgia at 855/753-0016.

   DATES AND LOCATIONS
  • Wednesday, July 31st – 12:00 Noon - The Plaza Restaurant in Thomasville

  • Thursday, August 1st – 9:00 A.M - UGA Tifton Conference Center in
Tifton

  • Thursday, August 1st – 12:30 P.M. - Doublegate Country Club in Albany

  • Wednesday, August 7th – 12:00 Noon - Bulloch Fertilizer Company in Statesboro

  • Thursday, August 8th – 12:00 Noon - NEW LOCATION – Durden Cabin at Partin Park in Lyons

  • Thursday, August 15th – 12:00 Noon - United Community Bank in Dawsonville

  • Wednesday, August 21st – 12:00 Noon - Georgia National Fairgrounds & Agricenter in Perry

  • Thursday, August 22nd – 12:00 Noon - Georgia Grown Welcome Center in Forest Park

  • Thursday, August 22nd – 6:00 P.M. - Holiday Inn in Athens
WE NEED YOU -
2019 STAR SPONSORSHIP'S
Many thanks to those who have already signed up this year , but it is not too late to join us. This program helps with events during the legislative session along with building support for a variety of projects and initiatives that cannot take place without the added participation. Star Sponsors are reflected in each of our newsletters, as posted on this page, along with the weekly legislative reports throughout each session of the Georgia General Assembly, monthly newsletters, and more.   Click here   for 2019 Star Sponsor registration information, email Jill Hansard or call the GAC office at 706-336-6830. Thank you!
GEORGIA AgPAC
In a political environment that is rapidly changing, supporting leaders that understand and support Agribusiness has never been more important than it is today.
The Georgia Agribusiness Council was created for the purpose of advocating for agribusiness interests in the legislative and regulatory arenas. This lofty initiative continues to get harder and harder. In our efforts to advance these activities, the Council formed the Georgia AgPAC several years ago that has several functions, including:
* Financially supporting the campaigns of political candidates friendly to our initiatives;
* Educating elected officials and key decision makers on issues important to agribusiness;
* Advocacy of issues that advance our industry and communities

We ask for your support so that we can continue to fight on behalf of Georgia agribusiness interests. Campaign contributions from Georgia AgPAC is restricted to non-federal candidates in races for legislative and statewide offices.  Georgia AgPAC needs your contribution to advance this initiative. 

Your corporate or personal commitment will help us prepare today. All donations are welcome. Please call our office at 706-336-6830 or  click here to download the donation form  to be a partner in this effort. 
FOUNDATION DONATIONS
The Georgia Agribusiness Council Foundation, is a 501(c)(3) organization that was created to help grow funding initiatives to help support agriculture education. 

GAC is a proud sponsor of agribusiness awards and programs for FFA and 4-H, in addition to many other education projects. The Council created the Dr. Joe Crane Memorial Classroom Grant program for Georgia teachers interested in promoting agricultural literacy; provides William C. “Bill” Baisley “Sumpin Big” Scholarships to Georgia college students demonstrating a need for financial assistance while seeking an agricultural degree; and sponsors the UGA CAES Congressional Fellowship Program. 

Through generous support to the GAC Foundation, the Council will continue to invest in these programs and others to expand opportunities available to young people. Please click here for donation information.
Barrington Dairy, LLC
Berrien Peanut Co.
Bill Hembree & Associates / Nationwide
Boddiford Farm Services Inc.
Coffee County Gin Co. Inc.
Coley Gin & Fertilizer Co. Inc.
CSA Farms, Inc.
Curry Farm Supply Inc.
Docia Farms Ptn.
Emanuel Peanut & Grain
Embry Farm Services
GA Agricultural Commodity for Tobacco
Georgia Christmas Tree Association
Georgia Seed Association Inc.
Holder Ag Consulting
Israel Farm Supply, Inc.
J & B Irrigation Inc.
KAKEGA LLC
Leatherbrook Holsteins LLC
Nut Tree Pecan Nursery
Patrick Family Farms, LLC
Pineland Plantation
Quality Feedstuffs, Inc.
Quality Gin, Inc.
Redmond's Shiloh Farms, Inc.
Sconyers Gin & Warehouse Co.
Shiloh Farms, Inc.
South Georgia Produce Inc.
Southern Seed Co.
Swainsboro Stockyard
The Dairy Alliance, Inc.
Turner County Stockyard, Inc.
U.S. Poultry & Egg Association
Vidalia Onion Business Council
Walter J. Turner Farms
West Georgia Processing, Inc.
Wilkes County Stockyard
Special thanks to all of our Star Sponsors. Please call our office at 706-336-6830 for details. Thank you!

ASMARK INSTITUTE - 2019 Applicator Manual
These manuals have become the industry standard in helping comply with EPA's requirements to have label information available for your applicators while handling or applying pesticides. Great for crop consultants!
  • 1,880 pages of information
  • Handy 5-1/2" x 8-1/2" size
  • Contains the most popular custom-applied products
  • Revised just in time for the 2019 season
  • 42% of the labels revised for 2019
For More Information or to place an order Click Here .
QUICK NOTES
* The Georgia Seed Association's Annual Convention will be held on July 14-15, 2019 at the Lodge at Gulf State Park in Gulf Shores, Alabama. This year's meeting is hosted by the Alabama Seed Association .
* The 2019 Georgia Forestry Association's Annual Conference will be held July 26 - 28 at Jekyll Island, GA. For more information or to register, click here
* The Georgia Plant Food Educational Society Summer Meeting is again scheduled at the Ritz-Carlton Resort Hotel in Amelia Island, Fl. The meeting will be held on July 15 - 17, 2019 , for more information please click here .
* The 21st Annual Southern Peanut Growers Conference will be held  July 18-20, 2019  at the  Edgewater Beach Resort , Panama City Beach, Florida. The three-day event provides farmers with information about peanut production, legislative issues, marketing and promotions. For more information and registration click here .
*Sunbelt Ag Expo Field Day will be July 25, 2019 at Spence Field in Moultrie. Please go to www.sunbeltexpo.com for more information.
* The Georgia Cattleman’s Association 9 th Annual Summer Conference will be held at Ridges Resort & Marina, Hiawassee, GA on July 25-27, 2019.  For more information on the conference and registration click here.
* The Citrus Expo will be held August 14-15, 2019 at the Lee Civic Center in North Ft. Myers, FL. For more information please click here.
This information is intended for members of the Georgia Agribusiness Council, Inc. No part of this document shall be copied, edited, or redistributed in any form without express written consent from the Georgia Agribusiness Council, Inc.
Georgia Agribusiness Council | 706-336-6830 | WWW.GA-AGRIBUSINESS.ORG