JUNE 2023

AgOutlook is the monthly online publication of the Georgia Agribusiness Council. For information about what is going on within the GAC as well as updates on agribusiness topics of interests, read below. As always, please feel free to contact the GAC staff at any time. Contact information can be found at www.ga-agribusiness.org.

AGRIBUSINESS LEADERS ADVOCATE IN WASHINGTON, DC

GAC staff traveled to Washington, DC recently with Commissioner Tyler Harper and a group of state legislators to advocate for Georgia agriculture in upcoming Farm Bill negotiations. The discussions also centered around the negative impacts that our farmers feel due to increased wage rates, trade practices from our neighbors in Mexico and Central America, and burdensome regulations on Georgia agribusinesses.

The group met with the majority of Georgia's Congressional Delegation, including Senators Warnock and Ossoff, as well as Senate and House Agriculture Committee Leaders John Boozman and GT Thompson. Several members of Congress remain optimistic that the Farm Bill will be completed in 2023 in time to allow our growers to make informed planting decisions heading into next year.



GAC would like to give a special Thank You to GDA's Patrick Guthrie and Ben Ayers from In Session Strategies for their hard work in putting together the meetings and making the trip successful.

SCOTUS RULING LIMITS WOTUS

In a ruling on May 25, the Supreme Court of the United States ruled on a case that will limit the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) jurisdiction in enforcing the Clean Water Act (CWA). The case also influences the agency’s definition of waters of the United States (WOTUS).

In the case Sackett v. EPA, the court ruled in favor of the Sackett family in a 9-0 decision (though justices differed in their reasoning). The decision overruled a lower court ruling against the Sackett family. The Idaho family had sought a permit to build a home on their property and placed sand and gravel as foundation fill, which EPA claimed was a violation of the CWA due to its proximity to Lake Priest.

That’s where the question of WOTUS came into play. Was the property and home location in question a “waterway” that would convey the sand and gravel, which is considered a pollutant, into the lake? If so, it would be in violation of WOTUS.

That has been the legal tangle for years since the Obama administration first attempted to redefine WOTUS. The original definition specified “navigable waters,” but opponents argued the new definition, at worst, would categorize land features as small as ditches to be under the jurisdiction of EPA or, at best, was so unclear it left landowners, like the Sacketts, in legal jeopardy.  

The case challenged whether or not the Sackett property fell under the EPA’s jurisdiction. The court found the property was not under the jurisdiction of the EPA. Late last year, the Biden administration reinstated the WOTUS rule that was much the same as Obama’s definition. The Trump administration had basically overturned the Obama action.

The court’s action sets the Biden regulation aside. Farm groups had urged the administration to wait for the Sackett v. EPA ruling for this very reason.

NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING: AGRICULTURAL FROST PROTECTION WITHDRAWAL PERMTIS TO BE CONSIDERED IN PORTIONS OF FLINT RIVER BASIN (FRB)

This notice is to announce that the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD) is considering frost protection groundwater withdrawal permits from the Floridan Aquifer in portions of the lower FRB and sub-area 4 where a moratorium on new and/or expanded permits, including frost protection permits, is currently in effect. EPD anticipates it will begin accepting applications for frost protection permits in the suspension area in September 2023.

EPD has been evaluating various options for agriculture water withdrawal permitting in the lower FRB, including frost protection permits. Frost protection permits have limited water needs compared to traditional crop irrigation permits; while frost protection requires a large amount of water, frost conditions only occur a few days each year. Because the use would be limited to the traditional recharge season (October 15 to April 15) and limited in quantity, frost protection permits are anticipated to have a negligible effect on flows in the FRB, while responding to the needs of the agricultural community. 

To support the development of an implementable, protective, and feasible permitting program, EPD is also announcing a public meeting to request input on frost protection permits. The meeting will be held on Wednesday, June 21, from 1 P.M. to 3 P.M. at the Candy Room at the Riverfront Resource Center, 125 Pine Avenue, Albany, Georgia, 31701.

In addition to attending the public meeting, stakeholders may choose to send written comments to EPD. Written comments may be sent to EPDComments@dnr.ga.gov or mailed to the Environmental Protection Division, Watershed Protection Branch, Suite 1470A East Tower, 2 Martin Luther King, Jr., Dr., Atlanta, Georgia, 30334. If you choose to e-mail your comments, please include the words “Frost protection permits” in the subject line to help ensure your comments will be forwarded to the correct staff. EPD will accept comments at any time, but to ensure consideration in the frost protection permitting development process, please submit your comments by June 30, 2023.

For more information on frost protection permitting, please visit the EPD website. For more information on specific locations affected by the suspension, contact the Agricultural Permitting Unit in Tifton at 229-391-2400.

Please share this information with anyone who may be interested.

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MEMBER SPOTLIGHT - KENT FOUNTAIN, SOUTHEASTERN GIN & PEANUT

Southeastern Gin & Peanut has been a GAC member since 1995, and Premium Peanut has been a member since 2017. Mr. Kent Fountain works with both companies; he is the President of Southeastern Gin & Peanut, the Chairman of Premium Peanut, and will also serve as the Chairman of the Georgia Ports Authority beginning July 1st, 2023, and the Treasurer of the Georgia Seed Development Commission.

Mr. Fountain began his career in agriculture with the opening of Southeastern Gin & Peanut in 1995. Over the past twenty-plus years, Mr. Fountain has experienced many changes in technology, laws, and the economy that have assisted with many of his accomplishments on the farm and in the ag industry. He says that efficiency is his biggest accomplishment, and he strives every year to be more efficient than the last. Mr. Fountain has been a leader in the ag industry, and his involvement with Premium Peanut shows his deep love for the industry. Premium Peanut is a grower-owned peanut sheller, oil, and seed company located in Douglas, GA. It handles more than 10% of the United States’ peanut crop.

         The agriculture industry is deep-rooted and family oriented according to Mr. Fountain. His father worked as a county agent in Wayne County and owes the start of his love for the agriculture industry to his father. After working for many years in the agriculture industry, Mr. Fountain says, “It’s real; there are real people trying to get our food and fiber out of the earth while using technology to feed the world” when asked about the importance of the agriculture industry, he adds, “I don’t think there’s a better occupation out there."



          Mr. Fountain has the unique ability to experience the agriculture industry from various viewpoints due to his involvement across Georgia. His hope for the future of agriculture in Georgia is to educate the masses on the importance of agriculture. Goals, like educating the masses on agriculture, keep the industry rich and flowing; people with like-minds coming together to support and grow the industry make these goals achievable.

COMMISSIONER HARPER ANNOUCES GEORGIA GROWN MARKETING PARTNERSHIP WITH ATLANTA BRAVES

ATLANTA— Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper and the Georgia Department of Agriculture are excited to announce that Wednesday, June 7, will be the inaugural “Georgia Grown Night” at Truist Park as the Braves take on their division rival the New York Mets. Georgia Grown Night is the kick-off of an exciting new partnership between the Georgia Grown program and the Atlanta Braves to market and raise awareness of Georgia Grown specialty crops during the 2023 season. This partnership includes Georgia Grown as the presenting sponsor of the game on June 7^th as well as additional advertising inside Truist Park and radio ads across the Braves broadcast affiliates during the month of June. Commissioner Harper will throw out the first pitch at Georgia Grown Night on June 7^th, and we encourage everyone to come out to the ballpark and show their support for Georgia’s number one industry.

The partnership will include:

• Static wall wraps highlighting Georgia Grown specialty crops throughout the main concourse
• Digital Kiosks throughout the Battery 
• Full page ad in the Braves playbill for 5 series in June 
• 120 radio ads highlighting Georgia Grown specialty crops
• Homeplate C LED Board Static Ad for 5 games
• Presenting sponsor of Georgia Grown Night game on June 7^th
• 1^st Base, 3^rd Base, & Homeplate LED display
• Bullpen LED Display

“I am thrilled to announce this exciting new partnership between the Georgia Grown Program and our hometown Atlanta Braves,” said Commissioner Tyler Harper. “This partnership will help to raise awareness around the all-star lineup of Georgia Grown specialty crops and bring the farm to table home for more Georgia consumers. From juicy Georgia peaches to the world-famous Vidalia onion, nothing beats the quality of Georgia Grown and we’re confident that this partnership will be a homerun for Georgia farmers and consumers alike.”

“The Atlanta Braves have worked with local farmers and food distributors to ensure access to fresh produce in communities across Braves Country through our Home Plate Project, and planted community orchards and urban food forests through our sustainability initiatives," said Braves Vice President of Community Affairs and Executive Director of the Atlanta Braves Foundation, Danielle Bedasse. "We could not be more excited about this new partnership with the Georgia Department of Agriculture and Georgia Grown. It furthers our commitment to food security and food sovereignty, raising awareness of what produce is in season and grown locally for those in Georgia and beyond.”

Georgia Grown is a division of the Georgia Department of Agriculture created to help new and established agribusinesses grow by bringing producers, processors, suppliers, distributors, retailers, agritourism and consumers together in one powerful statewide community.

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EMERGENCY RELIEF ASSISATANCE PROGRAMS

The USDA recently announced plans to roll out the 2022 Emergency Relief Program (ERP) and Emergency Livestock Relief Program (ELRP) for crop and livestock producers who sustained losses due to a qualifying natural disaster event in 2022. Farm Service Agency (FSA) will provide crop producers assistance through two tracks based on previous coverage and streamlining the application process for eligible producers.

USDA will keep producers and stakeholders updated with further application

details in the coming months. More information can be found by visiting the

following web page: http://fsa.usda.gov/erp 

Additionally, USDA has extended the application deadline for ERP Phase 2 and PARP to July 14, 2023. The extended deadline will give producers more time to apply for assistance.  

To be eligible for ERP Phase Two, producers must have suffered a decrease in allowable gross revenue in 2020 or 2021 due to necessary expenses related to losses of eligible crops from a qualifying natural disaster event.  

To be eligible for PARP, an agricultural producer must have been in the business of farming during at least part of the 2020 calendar year and had a 15% or greater decrease in allowable gross revenue for the 2020 calendar year, as compared to a baseline year. 

Due to the impact of freezing temperatures earlier this year, the following Georgia counties have received a disaster designation: Chattahoochee, Clay, Early, Muscogee, Seminole, and Stewart. This Secretarial natural disaster designation allows the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) to extend much-needed emergency credit to producers recovering from natural disasters through emergency loans. These emergency loans can be used to meet various recovery needs, including the replacement of essential items such as equipment or livestock, reorganization of a farming operation, or to refinance certain debts. FSA will review the loans based on the extent of losses, security available, and repayment ability.  

BIPARTISAN BILL TO ADVANCE AGRIVOLTAICS IN U.S. SENATE

Morningagclips.com

WASHINGTON — American Farmland Trust (AFT) celebrated the introduction of the Bipartisan

Agrivoltaics Research and Demonstration Act of 2023. 

Introduced by Senator Martin Heinrich (D-NM) and Senator Mike Braun (R-IN), the legislation would establish a framework for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to define and evaluate agrivoltaics to better incorporate the practice of pairing solar energy generation with agricultural production into USDA programs. It would also authorize USDA to create a network of research and demonstration sites. The bill’s introduction comes less than a week after AFT released its recommendations to Congress to advance a Smart Solar buildout in the upcoming Farm Bill that benefits rural communities and protects farmland and farm viability.

“We applaud Senator Heinrich and Senator Braun for their forward-thinking leadership in introducing this bill,” said Tim Fink, Policy Director for American Farmland Trust. “As the essential transition toward renewable energy accelerates across the country, it must be done in a way that strengthens rural communities and minimizes the footprint on our most productive farmland. This legislation would help advance the potential for agrivoltaics to do both.”

According to the Department of Energy, achieving the goal of a decarbonized electric sector by 2050 will require converting 10.4 million acres of land to solar energy generation. Farmland is often favored by solar developers, particularly high-quality farmland, because it is flat, sunny, cleared, and near energy infrastructure. In fact, recent AFT modeling revealed that 83% of new solar energy development is likely to take place on farmland if additional policy steps are not taken, with half of that on the nation’s best land for producing food and crops.

Alongside state and local governments, the federal government—and especially USDA—has an important role to play in minimizing this conversion of farmland and ensuring the solar buildout strengthens rural communities. To accomplish this, AFT has developed four “smart solar principles” for policymakers, developers, and communities to follow:

• Prioritize siting on the built environment and marginal land
• Safeguard the ability for land to be used for agriculture
• Grow agrivoltaics for agricultural production and solar energy
• Promote equity and farm viability

Agrivoltaics refers to the practices of integrating solar energy generation and farming on the same piece of land, which could potentially reduce displacement of agricultural production from farmland as a result of solar development. The concept has been gaining attention in land-constrained countries like Japan and Germany as well as in states like Massachusetts and New Jersey.

“If included in the Farm Bill,” Fink said, “the Agrivoltaics Research and Demonstration Act would secure USDA’s role in advancing this innovation alongside the Department of Energy, AFT, and other partners across the country. Together, we are seeking ways to reduce displacement of farming from productive land as a result of solar energy development.”



AFT’s Farm Bill Smart Solar platform urges Congress to direct and empower USDA agencies—including the Natural Resources Conservation Service, Rural Development, and research agencies—to provide the guidance, support, and leadership that will enable state and local decision makers to put AFT’s full suite of Smart Solar principles into action. In addition to recommending the actions in this bill, the platform urges Congress to direct USDA to develop guidance to ensure that land converted to solar can be returned to agricultural use, that the Rural Energy for America Program serve as a model for Smart Solar deployment, and that additional research be conducted to advance Smart Solar. The platform also recommends that the Farmland Protection Policy Act be strengthened to better track conversion of agricultural land to solar development and minimize the footprint of federally-funded utility-scale solar projects on our most productive farmland.

THERE IS STILL TIME TO BE A STAR SPONSOR

The 2023 GAC Star Sponsor program registration is still available to be apart of. 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 the 2023 Star Sponsor registration form or for more information, email Jill Hansard or call the GAC office at 706-336-6830. Click Here for Online registration. Thank you!

HELP FIGHT FOR GEORGIA AGRICULTURE: SUPPORT THE GA AgPAC TODAY

In a policy environment that is rapidly changing, supporting state political 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 agricultural interests in the legislative and regulatory arenas. This lofty initiative continues to get harder and harder each election cycle. In our efforts to advance these activities, the Council formed the Georgia AgPAC several years ago that utilizes member's donations to:

* Financially support the campaigns of political candidates who are supportive of agriculture;

* Educating elected officials and key decision makers on issues important to agribusiness;

* Advocacy of issues that advance our industry and rural communities

We ask for your financial 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. 

Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College

Bagwell Insurance Group, Inc.

Center for Rural Prosperity and Innovation

Georgia Crop Production Alliance

Georgia Electric Membership Corporation

Georgia Power Co.

Osage Farms Inc.

Premium Peanut

Southwest Georgia Farm Credit

Ag Technologies LLC

Albany Dougherty Economic

Development Commission

Brooksco Dairy LLC

Carroll EMC

Color Burst

DeWitt Produce Co. Inc.

Fort Valley State University

Georgia Cotton Commission

GA Fruit & Vegetable Growers Association

Georgia Green Industry Association

Georgia Peanut Commission

Georgia Young Farmers Association

Green Fern Enterprises, LLC

Greg Sikes Farm, LLC

Growers Gin & Warehouse, Inc.

Growers Supply Inc.

Hattaway Farms Partnership

Hillside Orchard Farms, Inc.

J & B Irrigation Inc.

Kelley Manufacturing Co.

Leatherbrook Holsteins LLC

Mixon Seed Services Inc.

Mobley Greenhouse, Inc.

SafEnvirons, Inc.

Sunbelt Agricultural Exposition

Terra Chula Property Holdings

The Turfgrass Group, Inc.

U.S. Poultry & Egg Association

USA Poultry & Egg Export Council

WDairy LLC

Woodruff & Howe Environmental Engineering, Inc.

Agri-Business Technologies, Inc.

AgLanta Grown

American Peanut Shellers Association

American Peanut Trailers, LLC

Barrington Dairy, LLC

Boston Gin Co.

Broken Antler Farms

Bulloch Gin Inc.

Burriss Law Group, LLC

C.M. Tanner Grocery Co. Inc.

Calhoun Stockyard Hwy. 53 Inc.

Centurion Poultry Inc.

Circle C Farms Inc.

Coley Gin & Fertilizer

Cotton Partners LLC

Curry Farm Supply Inc.

Easterlin Pecan Company

EGA, Inc.

Emanuel Peanut & Grain LLC

Embry Farm Service

Feeding Georgia

Food Safety Net Services

Funston Gin Co. Inc.

Georgia 4-H Foundation

GA Assoc. of Conservation Districts

GA Assoc. of County Agricultural Agents

GA Assoc. of Professional Ag Consultants

Georgia Cattlemen's Association

Georgia Christmas Tree Association

Georgia Crop Improvement Assoc.

Georgia Federal-State Inspection Service, Inc.

Georgia FFA Association

Georgia Foundation for Agriculture

Georgia Milk Producers Inc.

Georgia Peach Council

Georgia Pecan Growers Association, Inc.

Georgia Pork Producers Association

Georgia Poultry Federation

Georgia Seed Association Inc.

Georgia Vocational Ag Teacher Association

Georgia Watermelon Association

Georgia Women in Agriculture Association Inc.

International Forest Company

Israel Farm Supply, Inc.

L. R. Land & Cattle Company, Inc.

Lenox Peanut Company

Longleaf Land LLC

Majors Electric & Mechanical Company, Inc.

Moultrie Colquitt County Development Authority

National Peanut Buying Points Assn.

Northeast Georgia Livestock

Oglethorpe Power Corporation

P.G.C. Farms

Pike Creek Turf, Inc.

Quality Gin, Inc.

Red Clay Ranch Equine Rescue & Sanctuary, Inc

Samara Plantation, LLC

Shealy Farms, Inc.

South GA Ag & Fertilizer

Southeastern Cotton Ginners Association

Southern Crop Production Association

Southern Livestock

Southern Seed Company, Inc.

Southern Specialty Equipment

Sweet Corn Co-Op

The Satsuma Company, LLC

Three Brothers Trucking, LLC

Vidalia Onion Business Council





Special thanks to all of our Star Sponsors. Please call our office at 706-336-6830 for details. Thank you!

CELEBRATING 57 YEARS OF LEADERSHIP TO GEORGIA'S STRONGEST INDUSTRY