USDA ANNOUNCES FINAL RULE ON ANIMAL TRACEABILITY

On Dec. 20, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced a final rule establishing general regulations for the traceability of U.S. livestock moving across state lines.

Under the final rule, unless specifically exempted, livestock moved interstate would have to be officially identified and accompanied by an interstate certificate of veterinary inspection or other documentation, such as owner-shipper statements or brand certificates, according to a USDA press release.

The American Farm Bureau Federation supports a voluntary national animal identification capable of providing support for animal disease control and eradication.

A general question-and-answer document about the rule, a summary of changes from the proposed rule, a standards document, details specific to certain species, and a list of approved eartags or other Animal Identification Number (AIN) devices are available at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/traceability/materials.shtml.

After the USDA considered more than 1,600 public comments received, the final rule has several differences from the proposed rule issued in August 2011. These include: accepting the use of brands, tattoos and brand registration as official identification when accepted by the shipping and receiving states or tribes; permanently maintaining the use of backtags as an alternative to official eartags for cattle and bison moved directly to slaughter; accepting movement documentation other than an Interstate Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (ICVI) for all ages and classes of cattle when accepted by the shipping and receiving states or tribes; clarifying that all livestock moved interstate to a custom slaughter facility are exempt from the regulations and exempting chicks moved interstate from a hatchery from the official identification requirements.

Beef cattle under 18 months of age, unless they are moved interstate for shows, exhibitions, rodeos, or recreational events, are exempt from the official identification requirement in this rule. These specific traceability requirements for this group will be addressed in separate rulemaking, allowing APHIS to work with livestock industries to implement the identification requirements.

Animal disease traceability, or knowing where diseased and at-risk animals are, where they’ve been, and when, is very important to ensure a rapid response when animal disease events take place, the USDA release said. An efficient and accurate animal disease traceability system helps reduce the number of animals involved in an investigation, reduces the time needed to respond, and decreases the cost to producers and the government.

The notice of final rule is expected to be published in Federal Register this month.

January 9, 2013 www.gfb.org Vol. 31 No. 2

Leadership Alert page 2 of 5 CARTERS NAMED TO AFBF YOUNG FARMER COMMITTEE

Henry County Farm Bureau Young Farmer Chairs Jake and Jennifer Carter have been selected to serve on the American Farm Bureau Federation Young Farmers and Ranchers Committee for a two-year term that begins on March 1.

The Carters served on the Georgia Farm Bureau Young Farmer Committee the past two years, including service as chairs of the committee in 2012.

“We’re humbled and honored to be able to serve on the committee,” Jake Carter said. “We want to represent Georgia agriculture well and make GFB proud.”

The Carters, along with Jake’s father Jimmy, run Southern Belle Farm in McDonough, growing strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, peaches and hay as well as maintaining a herd of beef cows. They also operate a thriving agritourism business, with a popular corn maze that has become a regular destination for school field trips. Jake holds a bachelor’s degree in business management from the University of Georgia, while Jennifer has a bachelor’s degree in exercise and health science.

“We’re very proud to have Jake and Jennifer represent Georgia Farm Bureau on the AFBF Young Farmers and Ranchers Committee,” said GFB President Zippy Duvall. “During their term on the GFB Committee, they showed a sincere dedication to promoting agricultural causes, and we expect they’ll do well in this new role.”

The Carters give GFB representation on the AFBF YF&R Committee for the eighth time since 1980. Mack and Jamie Crawford served on the committee in 1981 and 1982; Duvall and his wife Bonnie were on the committee in 1986 and 1987, Teel and Jeanie Warbington served in 1991 and 1992, Terry and Cindy England from 1994 to 1996, Michael and Rebecca Williams from 2001 to 2003, Ben Boyd from 2004 to 2006 and Leighton and Brenda Cooley from 2009 to 2011.

The YF&R program includes men and women between the ages of 18 and 35. The program’s goals are to help younger Farm Bureau members learn more about agriculture, network with other farmers and become future leaders in agriculture and Farm Bureau.

“Farm Bureau’s YF&R Committee members play a vital role in helping lead our organization through innovative and forward-thinking planning and ideas,” said AFBF President Bob Stallman. “I am very proud of these young members’ accomplishments so far and am confident they will continue to flourish through the coming year.” HORMEL FOODS TO ACQUIRE SKIPPY PEANUT BUTTER LINE

On Jan. 3 Hormel Foods Corporation announced it has entered into an agreement to acquire the Skippy peanut butter business from Unilever United States Inc.for approximately $700 million. The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including the receipt of regulatory approvals in the United States and other jurisdictions.

According to a company press release, the Skippy peanut butter domestic line consists of 11 varieties of shelf-stable peanut butter products. The brand, first introduced in 1932, holds the No. 2 share in the peanut butter category and is the leading brand in the faster growing subcategory of natural peanut butter. Peanut butter is a $2 billion category with a 74 percent household penetration and is the second most popular sandwich behind ham in the United States. Internationally, Skippy is the leading brand of peanut butter in China and is sold in more than 30 other countries on five continents.

Leadership Alert page 3 of 5 CLIMATOLOGIST: DECEMBER WARMER THAN USUAL IN GEORGIA

Georgia experienced a much warmer December than usual, according to UGA Climatologist Pam Knox. Temperatures averaged 3-6 degrees above normal across the state. Rainfall totals

ranged from more than 8 inches in the northern regions of the state to less than an inch along the coast.

In Atlanta the monthly average temperature was 51.1 degrees Fahrenheit (5.8 degrees above normal), in Athens the average was 49.8 degrees (4.4 above normal), in Columbus the average was 54.1 degrees (5 above normal), in Macon the average was 52.2 degrees (4.2 above normal), in Savannah the average was 56 degrees (4.3 above normal), in Brunswick the average was 57.4 degrees (3.3 above normal), in Alma the average was 55.7 degrees (3.1 above normal) and in Augusta the average was 51 degrees (3.8 above normal).

The highest monthly total precipitation from National Weather Service reporting stations was 5.93 inches in Atlanta (2.03 inches above normal) and the lowest was in Brunswick at 1.80 inches (0.84 below normal). Macon received 4.86 inches (0.82 inches above normal), Athens received 5.86 inches (2.13 above

normal), Savannah received 1.91 inches (1.04 below normal), Columbus received 5.23 inches (0.96 above normal), Alma received 2.97 inches (0.32 below normal) and Augusta received 4.67 inches (1.28 inches above normal).

The highest single-day rainfall reported was 2.93 inches northeast of LaGrange in Troup County on Dec. 26. An observer in Buena Vista in Marion County received 2.68 inches on the same date.

The highest monthly total rainfall was 10.43 inches, observed west of Emma in Dawson County. Two observers near Ellijay in Gilmer County reported 9.67 and 9.26 inches for the month. A few observers in northern Georgia noted some snow flurries and sleet in the last ten days of the month, but the only measurable snowfall that was reported was 0.5 inches west of Blue Ridge in Fannin County on Dec. 30.

Dry conditions in the southern part of the state expanded slightly due to the lack of rainfall, and according to the USDA Drought Monitor, drought covered more than 90 percent of the state as of Dec. 25.

Rain late in the month is expected to reduce the severity of drought in northern Georgia, but the severity of the drought is likely to increase in southern parts of the state that have not experienced those rains. Even with rains in northern Georgia, pond levels and stream flows remain low since most of the rain has gone into recharging the soil moisture.

DAVID SCOTT CONTINUES ON HOUSE AG COMMITTEE

Georgia Rep. David Scott (D-13th District) will continue his work on the House Agriculture committee for the 113th Congress, Ranking Member Collin Peterson said in a Jan. 4 press release. Rep. Austin Scott (R-8th District) also serves on the committee. During the 112th Congress, he served on the subcommittee for livestock, dairy and poultry and the subcommittee on general farm commodities and risk management.

Two Democratic seats on the committee are vacant, and the release indicated they would be filled in the coming weeks. Meanwhile, Sen. Thad Cochran (R-Miss.) was a unanimous selection among committee Republicans to become Ranking Member of the Senate Agriculture Committee.

Leadership Alert page 4 of 5 SOUTHEAST REGIONAL FRUIT & VEGETABLE CONFERENCE Jan. 10-13 International Trade and Convention Center Savannah This annual conference features 12 different crop-specific workshops plus workshops on business operations and food safety. Attendees will also have the chance to receive legislative updates. For more information or to register, visit http://www.seregionalconference.com. GEORGIA GROWN EXECUTIVE CHEF PROGRAM SEEKS APPLICANTS Georgia Grown and the Georgia Restaurant Association are seeking applicants for the Georgia Grown Executive Chef Program, which promotes the Department’s Georgia Grown campaign statewide. The program offers participating chefs a mark of honor and distinction, while increasing awareness for both restaurateurs and consumers about which local Georgia products are available for the cooking season. The application process runs through Jan. 11. Visit http://www.garestaurants.org/GeorgiaGrown to apply. The selected chefs will be announced at the Taste of Georgia Legislative Reception on Feb. 19, 2013.

2013 GEORGIA DAIRY CONFERENCE Jan. 14-16 Savannah Riverfront Marriott Savannah This annual conference is designed to provide dairy producers with significant and practical take-home information on topics ranging from economic factors affecting feed prices, lowering somatic cell counts, promotion and agritourism and much more. Fees for out-of-state dairymen are $100 per farm for all three days or $50 per farm for two days or less. more information, contact Farrah Newberry at 706-310-0020 or gamilkproducers@gmail.com. 2013 SOYBEAN/SMALL GRAIN EXPO Jan. 24 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 kudzu bug control, soybean breeding and the world outlook for southern commodities and others. Pesticide credits are available. For information, contact the Georgia/Florida Soybean Association at 706-542-3793. 2013 AG FORECAST MEETINGS Jan. 25 Ga. Center for Continuing Education Athens Jan. 28 ECO Center Rome Jan. 29 Georgia Farm Bureau Macon Jan. 30 UGA Tifton Campus Conference Center Tifton Jan. 31 Decatur Co. Livestock Complex Bainbridge Feb. 1 Toombs Co. Agri-Center Lyons UGA economists will give the 2013 ag economic outlook and guest speakers will discuss international trade and how the global economy impacts local businesses. Check-in for all sessions, except Tifton, begins at 9:30 a.m. Seminars run from 10 a.m. to noon followed by lunch. The Tifton event is a breakfast that runs from 7:30 a.m to 10 a.m. Cost is $30 per person or $200 for a table sponsorship, which includes eight seats. Advance registration is required by January 23. For more information or to register, visit http://www.georgiaagforecast.com call 706-583-0347 or email carlam@uga.edu. These meetings are a UGA College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences program endowed by Georgia Farm Bureau and supported by the Georgia Dept. of Agriculture and Georgia Agribusiness Council.

Leadership Alert page 5 of 5 CLIMATE ADAPTATION WORKSHOP Feb. 8 UGA Tifton Campus Conference Center 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Tifton This free one-day workshop, sponsored by the Southeast Climate Consortium, the Florida Climate Institute and the USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture, will bring together experts from the University of Georgia, the University of Florida, and Auburn, Clemson, Florida State and Florida A&M to discuss the latest techniques for helping farmers manage unpredictable weather conditions. Producers will also be on hand to talk about how new irrigation systems, crop varieties and land management techniques have worked on their farms. Sessions will be offered on sensor-based irrigation management, variable rate irrigation, drip irrigation, sod-based rotation, conservation tillage, cover crops and energy efficient farm systems. There will also be discussions on crop insurance issues, barriers and solutions to changing management and the seasonal climate outlook. For more information or to register visit www.agroclimate.org/seclimate/events. FLAVOR OF GEORGIA FOOD PRODUCT CONTEST The UGA Center for Agribusiness and Economic Development sponsors this annual contest, designed to help Georgia-based food entrepreneurs showcase their products. Contestants may submit as many products as they like. The categories are: barbecue and hot sauces; jams, jellies and sauces; confections; meat products; dairy products and snack foods. Registration is open and runs through Feb. 8, 2013. Finalists will be invited to take part in a final judging on March 11, 2013 and a public tasting on March 12 at Ag Awareness Day in Georgia event, when the winners will also be announced. For more information about the contest, including registration information, visit http://www.flavorofgeorgia.caes.uga.ed or call 706-583-0347. GA PORK PRODUCERS MEETING & PORK ACT DELEGATE ELECTION Feb. 12 Georgia Farm Bureau Home Office Macon Georgia pork producers will elect delegate candidates as outlined in the Pork Act for the 2014 National Pork Forum at 1:30 p.m. along with a meeting of the Georgia Pork Producers Association Board of Directors. Producers should bring a sales receipt proving that hogs were sold in their name and the checkoff was paid to be eligible as delegates or candidates or participate in the election. This meeting will follow the 2013 Georgia Pork Congress that begins with the meeting at 8:30 a.m. For information, contact the Georgia Pork Producers Association at 229-246-8297. 2013 FOREST BIOENERGY CONFERENCE Feb. 21 Central Georgia Convention Center 7:30 a.m – 4:30 p.m. Forsyth Interest in forest biomass as a potential feedstock for renewable energy facilities has been especially keen for the past several years and much of the activity has been centered in Georgia. While many issues are becoming clearer, much uncertainty remains with regard to government policy and market prices for fossil fuels. This conference is an excellent opportunity to hear from some of the players on the front lines of developing markets, influencing government policies, and conducting research on how these changes may impact our wood supply system. The conference is sponsored by the Georgia Forestry Association and the University of Georgia Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources. For more information please visit www.gfagrow.org or call 478-992-8110.