PROPOSED UGA BUDGET CUTS HIT 4-H, EXTENSION & AG RESEARCH HARDAll Georgia 4-H programs would be eliminated and half of the Cooperative Extension

county offices would be closed under a Board of Regents proposal to cut an additional $300million from the University System of Georgia’s FY 2011 budget as requested by statelegislators.

The proposal also calls for closing the C.M. Stripling Irrigation Research Park in Camilla,closing the Vidalia Onion and Vegetable Research Center in Reidsville, closing theAttapulgus Research Farm, closing the Georgia Mountain Research Center in Blairsville,closing all 4-H facilities across the state and reducing state support for the UGA Veterinaryteaching hospital. The cuts would eliminate 116 4-H staff positions and 169 Extension staffpositions.

“Georgia Farm Bureau’s policy supports full funding of the University of GeorgiaCooperative Extension Service, the Agricultural Research Stations and the College ofAgriculture and Environmental Sciences,” GFB President Zippy Duvall said. “We’realarmed by the possibility of these cuts and are talking with UGA officials and statelegislators to address preventing these cuts.”

During a joint meeting of the House and Senate Appropriations Subcommittees on HigherEducation Feb. 24, legislators asked the Georgia Board of Regents to cut an additional $300million from the University System of Georgia’s FY 2011 budget beyond the $245 millionGov. Perdue cut in his proposed budget. University System of Georgia Chancellor ErrollDavis asked the 35 presidents in the University System to produce a list of budget cuts tomeet the request. UGA’s portion of the cuts totals $58.9 million, including $11.66 million incuts to Extension programs and $816,000 in cuts to the CAES research budget. Proposed cutsto the CAES budget total $14.4 million.

Visit www.usg.edu/fiscal_affairs/documents/summary_of_reductions.pdf to see the entireproposed budget cut document.

“We’ve got to make some cuts, but the proposal by the chancellor and the president of theUniversity of Georgia on some of the cuts they’ve proposed are just outrageous,” SenateAgriculture Committee Chairman John Bulloch said. “ It may be that the University Systemhas to look at increasing tuition costs because of the cuts we may have to impose on them,but all of those things are still on table. We won’t be eliminating 4-H. We won’t beeliminating the Cooperative Extension Service or the research stations.”

CAES Dean Scott Angle also voiced concern for the proposed cuts saying, “I hope theseproposed reductions can either be restricted or eliminated. Agriculture is Georgia’s largestindustry and the college has played a vital role in the success of this great industry.”

March 4, 2010 www.gfb.org Vol. 28 No. 9

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U.S. POULTRY INDUSTRY HIT HARD BY CHINESE TARIFFSOn the heels of a Russian import ban of U.S. chicken that went into effect Jan. 1,

China’s tariffs on American poultry imports is having a profound impact on the U.S.poultry industry.

China is the second-largest importer of U.S. chicken behind Russia, which in Januarybanned imports of chlorine-rinsed poultry, which applies to nearly all poultry produced inthe United States. China instituted a system of anti-dumping tariffs on U.S. chickenimports effective Feb. 13. Some companies are being charged tariffs as high as 105.4percent of the product value, and industry analysts say the overall effect is to excludeU.S. chicken from the Chinese market place.

The tariffs vary by company. Tyson Foods is being charged a tariff of 43.1 percent,Keystone Foods 44 percent and Pilgrim’s Pride 80.5 percent. These rates are in additionto normal customs duties and value-added tax. Tyson, Keystone and Pilgrim’s Pride eachwere named in the initial investigation by the Chinese Ministry of Commerce(MOFCOM) and agreed to provide financial records for that investigation. An additional32 companies registered with MOFCOM and they were all assigned tariff rates of 64.5percent. Companies that did not register with MOFCOM will be charged 105.4 percent.Trading companies are required to pay the duty rate assigned to their suppliers.

Sanderson Farms, which falls into the 64.5 percent tariff category, is appealing theduty, and the USA Poultry and Egg Council (USAPEEC) is protesting on behalf of theindustry, arguing that U.S. export practices do not constitute dumping.

U.S. poultry producers exported nearly $650 million worth of chicken to China in2009, more than half in chicken feet, which can sell for between 60 and 80 cents perpound there. In the wake of the tariffs, USAPEEC said some U.S. companies have ceasedproduction of chicken feet, which hold little or no value in U.S. markets.

MOFCOM conducted an investigation into trade practices last fall and concluded thatthe U.S. poultry was being sold at unfairly low prices. MOFCOM further concluded thatthese practices caused economic harm to Chinese chicken producers.

SOUTHERN PINE BEETLE PREVENTION FUNDS AVAILABLEFor the ninth straight year, the Georgia Forestry Commission (GFC) is offering

funding to help forest landowners prevent infestations of southern pine beetles, whichhave caused more than $250 million in Georgia timber losses since 1972.

The program funds specific practices that support forest health, including non-commercial thinning (reducing the number of stems per acre to an optimum level), pinerelease treatments (removing unwanted hardwoods from the stand and lowering thenumber of stems per acre), prescribed burning, southern pine beetle infestationtreatments, replanting stands harvested due to southern pine beetle attacks or plantinglow-density pine stands within three miles of federally owned property. These forestpractices are known to improve habitat for many species of wildlife, including deer,turkey and quail.

The deadline to apply for the Southern Pine Beetle Cost-Share Program is March 31.For more information, visit www.gatrees.org/forestmanagement/spb.cfm or contact yourlocal GFC office.

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GFB LEADERS DISCUSS BIOTECH FEES WITH GOVERNOR PERDUEGFB President Zippy Duvall and GFB Cotton Advisory Committee Chairman

Michael Williams recently met with Gov. Sonny Perdue to discuss farmers’ concernsabout seed biotechnology fees. During the Feb. 23 meeting, Duvall and Williams stressedthe positive aspects of genetically modified seeds that have been altered to tolerateherbicides and resist insects.

“Our farmers have embraced this technology,” Duvall said, “It’s good for farmers,consumers and the environment.”

Duvall and Williams explained that biotechnology allows farmers to use fewerchemicals in growing their crops and allows farmers to use conservation tillage, whichprevents soil erosion and preserves soil moisture. They explained that Farm Bureau’sconcern is that Georgia cotton farmers pay more for biotech fees than farmers in otherstates.

“We don’t think that’s fair,” Duvall said.Duvall and Williams also talked to the governor about the problems farmers are

having with glyphosate resistant pigweed.“The insect side of the technology still works pretty well, but the glyphosate side is

not as valuable as it once was,” said Williams.Farm Bureau maintains that seed companies should price biotechnology fees

uniformly regardless of where the seed is grown and should reimburse growers when thevalue of the technology is diminished.

SUPREME COURT DENIES REQUEST TO HEAR PESTICIDE CASEThe U.S. Supreme Court has declined a Farm Bureau request that it review the Sixth

Circuit Court of Appeals decision in National Cotton Council v. EnvironmentalProtection Agency (EPA).

The Sixth Circuit ruled that many pesticide applications to, over or near “waters of theUnited States” would require National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES)permits under the Clean Water Act (CWA), a departure from the EPA’s previoushandling of pesticides and their coverage under the CWA.

Farm Bureau argued that the ruling had serious legal flaws and that it would have far-reaching impacts on agricultural operations. Since the EPA takes a broad interpretation of“waters of the United States” very broadly, the decision could affect hundreds ofthousands of farmers across the country.

Farm Bureau’s concern is that time spent in the process of gaining permits to usepesticides that are already allowed under EPA labeling requirements could negate theireffectiveness in controlling pests and in some cases could result in crop loss. The rulingcould also have public health implications because mosquito larvae develop in standingwater. The nation’s best defense against mosquito-borne diseases is effective mosquitocontrol through pesticide use.

The EPA is developing an NPDES general permit for use in several states, whileapproximately 45 states, including Georgia, will have to develop their own NPDESpermits for the use of pesticides.

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UPCOMING EVENTS

GA PEACH COMMISSION REFERENDUMThrough March 16 StatewideGeorgia peach producers are encouraged to vote in the referendum for the Georgia PeachCommission that runs from Feb. 15 to March 16. If you are a peach producer and did notreceive a ballot, contact the Georgia Department of Agriculture Commodities PromotionDivision at 1-800-282-5852. The commission oversees peach production research and promotionof the Georgia peach crop.

GEORGIA TOBACCO COMMISSION REFERENDUMBallots must be returned by March 25 StatewideGeorgia tobacco producers are urged to vote in the referendum for the Georgia TobaccoCommission as required every three years by state law. If you are a tobacco producer and did notreceive a ballot, contact the Georgia Department of Agriculture Commodities PromotionDivision at 1-800-282-5852. The commission’s main research objective continues to beresearching production practices and treatments that will reduce symptoms of Tomato SpottedWilt Virus.

GEORGIA AGRICULTURE AWARENESS DAYMarch 16 Georgia Depot (beside Underground Atlanta) Atlanta Gov. Sonny Perdue and his Agricultural Advisory Council will host a celebration of Georgiaagriculture. Exhibits, food and entertainment will begin at 11 a.m. At 12:30 p.m., Gov. Perduewill name the state winner of the Environmental Stewardship Award for Agriculture and thegrand prize winner of the Flavor of Georgia Food Contest. Call 229-391-6882 for moreinformation.

GFB EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP CONFERENCEMarch 20-21 Marriott Hotel and Suites@Riverwalk AugustaFarm Bureau members interested in mastering the skills of leadership should make plans toattend GFB’s annual Educational Leadership Conference. Workshop topics will addressleadership skills, agriculture activities for the classroom and being prepared for an emergency onthe farm. Registration is $65 per person. Hotel cost is $119 plus state and local tax. Deadline toregister is March 10. Contact your county Farm Bureau office for more details and to register.

PEANUT PROUD FESTIVALMarch 27 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Downtown Square BlakelyJoin the fun with a 5K Run, peanut parade, food vendors, recipe contest, educational exhibits,antique farm equipment display, arts and crafts and speeches by Georgia’s 2010 gubernatorialcandidates. For information, call 229-723-2802 or visit www.peanutproud.com.

GFB PREMISE LIABILITY WORKSHOPMarch 30 GFB Home Office 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. MaconThis free workshop will provide a general outline of premise law, how to recognize and limitliability problems, different types of insurance coverage and what to do in the event of anaccident. Please RSVP by March 26 by calling 800-342-1196 or emailing btashley@gfb.org.