October 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.

SCHOLARSHIP DEADLINE IS QUICKLY APPROACHING

GAC's William C. "Bill" Baisley "Sumpin' Big" Scholarship applications for 2023 deadline is quickly approaching. If you know of anyone that would benefit from a scholarship please pass this on. This $1000 scholarship is offered up to three students in need of financial assistance studying for an agricultural career at a college in Georgia. The late Mr. Baisley, was a longtime friend of GAC and a Board of Director member for many years, had a passion for the future of agriculture and those looking to advance it. Bill used the phrase “sumpin big” as a way to move ideas forward. We honor him with this scholarship and look forward to helping a student that is moving our industry forward. Please share this scholarship application with a college student or high school senior in Georgia needing financial assistance and studying in the areas of agriculture or natural resources. The scholarship application is due postmarked to the GAC office on or before October 13, 2023. 

Click Here for the $1000 Baisley Scholarship Application

GRANT

GAC started the Dr. Joe B. Crane Memorial Classroom Grant Program to deliver grant funds directly to teachers for ag education projects. It is named for longtime GAC Director and education program advocate Dr. Joe B. Crane of Valdosta. Dr. Joe was an integral part of the Lowndes County Board of Education and carried his passion for education wherever he went. We are proud to support this program that gives Georgia teachers the chance to creatively teach agriculture in their classroom. Any public or private school teacher in Georgia, no matter the grade level, wanting to incorporate the importance of agriculture in their lesson plans can take advantage of this opportunity for assistance in the classroom to help educate the future generation of Georgians. The applications are due postmarked to the GAC office by October 20, 2023.

Click Here for the $1000 Classroom Grant Application

TRIMBLE CEO: $2B Deal Fuels Innovation

$2B Trimble, AGCO Joint Venture Gives New Fuel to Ag Tech

By  Dan Miller , Progressive Farmer Senior Editor

(Photo courtesy of Trimble)

Trimble and AGCO Corporation on Thursday announced a $2 billion deal to form a joint venture to deliver innovations in automation and autonomy to agriculture. The new partners are calling their agreement the largest ever of its kind.



Georgia-based AGCO (Fendt, Massey Ferguson, Precision Planting and Valtra) is acquiring an 85% interest in Colorado-based Trimble Ag's portfolio of agricultural assets and technologies for $2 billion in cash and the contribution of JCA Technologies to the joint venture. JCA Technologies, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, is a leading developer of autonomous agricultural systems. JCA was acquired by AGCO in May of 2022.

The joint venture will be the exclusive provider of Trimble Ag's technology and will maintain the Trimble brand and the Trimble retail channels. In addition, Precision Planting, AGCO OEM and 100 other original equipment manufacturers will bring new AGCO-Trimble technologies to market. Trimble's ag systems have been placed on 10,000 pieces of equipment.

"Farmers today are looking for mixed-fleet solutions across their tractors and the implements that they use to most efficiently and sustainably feed the world," Rob Painter, CEO of Trimble, said in a news release Thursday. "We believe a joint venture with AGCO, complemented by the successful mixed-fleet approach that they have developed with their Precision Planting business model, can help us better serve farmers and OEMs together."

The AGCO-Trimble agreement is set to close in the first half of 2024.

For more details about the joint venture, see "AGCO, Trimble Sign $2B Tech Agreement" click here.

The following Deadlines are next week:

To be listed in the program as a Sponsor, tickets

must be purchased by October 13th

ORDER TICKETS TODAY

Make your Hotel Reservation prior to October 16th to be included in the GAC Room Block

Hyatt Place • 706/425-1800 

Book your group rate for Georgia Agribusiness Council Here 

 To receive the group discount, use code “G-HRC3”.

Hilton Garden Inn • 706/353-6800 • Click Here For Reservations 

To receive the group discount, ask for the Georgia Agribusiness Council block rate or use code "00GAC". 

To Sponsor or Purchase tickets or tables,

click below or call

Rebekah @ the GAC office 706.336.6830

or email rmcdowell@ga-agribusiness.org

DONATE TO THE HARVEST CELEBRATION SILENT AUCTION

Thank you for your support of the 2023 Harvest Celebration. All companies or individuals making donations toward the Harvest Celebration Silent Auction and/or Field of Dreams will be recognized in the Harvest Celebration Program. Individuals making donations toward our sponsorship levels will be given additional recognition in the Harvest Celebration Program and during the actual event. All contributions - actual items or monetary contributions - are tax deductible through the GAC Foundation. We greatly appreciate your support!

AGRICULTURE COMMISSIONER TYLER HARPER RELEASES STATEMENT ON BIDEN EPA’s FLAWED WOTUS RULE REVISION

September 27: Atlanta, Ga – Today, Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper issued the following statement in response to the revised Waters of The United States (WOTUS) rule recently promulgated by the Biden Administration’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Army Corps of Engineers. 

“Yet again, the Biden Administration has rushed through a revised WOTUS rule that fails to provide much needed clarity for American farmers, ranchers, and property owners and that will lead to continued federal overreach,” said Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper. “Following Sackett v. EPA, the Administration had the opportunity to put forth a clear, time-tested rule that would provide stability for millions of Americans, instead they dismissed the expertise and concerns of stakeholders from across the country. We will continue to push back against the Biden Administration’s overreach, and I am confident that our farmers and ranchers – whose livelihoods depend on the land – will continue to do their part to protect and preserve Georgia’s abundant natural resources.”

On August 29, 2023, the EPA issued this revised WOTUS rule in response to the Supreme Court’s ruling in Sackett v. EPA on May 29, 2023, which struck down the “significant nexus” standard included in the previous rule as overly vague. While the “significant nexus” standard has been removed from the revised rule, it lacks clear definitions of words like “tributary” and “relatively permanent” waters, leaving the door open for continued federal overreach. The revised rule was finalized without normal notice or the opportunity for public comment. 

Commissioner Harper has a history of supporting farmers, ranchers, and private property owners and pushing back against federal overreach. In April 2022, he joined agriculture leaders from across the state to pen a letter to Senators Ossoff and Warnock urging them to speak out on the version of the WOTUS rule that was ultimately struck down by SCOTUS. Similarly, he supported Attorney General Chris Carr’s lawsuit, in conjunction with 23 other states, against the Biden Administration’s definition of WOTUS and applauded SCOTUS’s decision in Sackett v. EPA. Commissioner Harper will continue to work together with industry, state, and federal leaders to advocate for a clearly defined WOTUS rule that provides farmers, ranchers, and property owners the stability they deserve while still protecting our nation’s waterways.

45th ANNUAL SUNBELT AG EXPO 

Press Release

2023 - Agriculture in Action

The Sunbelt Agricultural Exposition will celebrate its 45th Anniversary show October 17-19, 2023. 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 Sunbelt Ag 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. This year ushers in a new era for the award as Sunbelt welcomes new sponsors and a new look for the program.

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 over 20 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. Finally, 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 Backyard Garden 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, healthy recipes, and more will be offered in the Georgia Metals Pavilion and in the demonstration garden. Be on the lookout this year for all things “pollinator bees!”

A crowd pleaser is the 600-acre research farm’s field demonstrations. These demos showcase harvesting and tillage equipment for multiple crops. In addition, hay demos will include all facets of hay harvesting, from cutting to baling, and will provide visitors the opportunity to see different types of hay harvesting equipment run in a true farm setting.

Expo is honored to have Alabama as the 2023 Spotlight State. Take a road trip through Sweet Grown Alabama when you are at this year’s Expo.

The Expo always features an array of aromatic compliments of the delicious food sold within the grounds during the show. In addition, many demonstration areas, including 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, and this year we will feature an Antique Tractor Pull. Don’t forget to make the Cow Milking Contest held every afternoon part of your plan. 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. It's 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 17-19, 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. The Show site is four miles southeast of Moultrie, GA, on Hwy 133. For more information, see the show website at sunbeltexpo.com. ### 

ERADICATION OF SECOND YELLOW-LEGGED HORNET'S NEST IN GEORIGIA

 

September 20: Atlanta, GA – Today, Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper announced, in coordination with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the University of Georgia (UGA), the discovery and destruction of a second yellow-legged hornet’s nest on Wilmington Island near Savannah, GA. The first live detection of a yellow-legged hornet (YLH: Vespa velutina) in the open United States was confirmed in Georgia on August 9, 2023. Shortly after, on August 23, 2023, a yellow-legged hornet’s nest was located and destroyed by Department staff and pest management professionals in a residential neighborhood on Wilmington Island. The yellow-legged hornet is a non-native species that, if allowed to establish in the United States, could threaten honey production, native pollinators, and Georgia’s #1 industry - agriculture.

“Since the initial detection of the yellow-legged hornet in Georgia, the Department’s team of dedicated professionals have been working overtime to find any additional yellow-legged hornets in our state, and thanks to their tireless work, we have eradicated a second yellow-legged hornet’s nest,” said Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper. “While this eradication is a win for our state and our agriculture industry, we’ll continue working around the clock to find any additional hornets, eradicate this invasive pest, and protect our state’s agriculture industry. The public has played a vital role in this effort, and we’re asking Georgians to continue reporting any suspected sightings directly to the Department.”

The second nest was discovered by Department staff under a bridge on Wilmington Island, GA, on September 15, 2023, and it was eradicated that evening by the same crew of pest management professionals who assisted with the eradication of the first nest. This nest was located using a variety of techniques, including capturing, marking, and releasing hornets to estimate the distance from the trapping location to the nest. Additionally, hornets were captured, taken to different locations, and released so their flight direction could be observed. As this process was repeated, the size of the search area was gradually reduced until the nest was located. 

After eradication, the nest was examined by Dr. Lewis Bartlett from the University of Georgia and Dr. Jamie Ellis from the University of Florida. They identified developing hornets within the nest and confirmed there was no evidence of the production of reproductive males or queens within the colony at the time of destruction. Additionally, scientists from UGA have sequenced the genetics of hornets from the first nest and evidence suggests these hornets originated in Asia. DNA samples were taken from the second nest, and genetic analysis of these samples is ongoing. 

“The University of Georgia remains committed, alongside our colleagues at the Georgia Department of Agriculture, to the task of eradicating the yellow legged hornet from Georgia and the rest of the country,” said University of Georgia Professor of Entomology and Honey Bee Program Director Dr. Keith Delaplane. “While it does not pose a serious risk to humans, pets and livestock, this hornet has proven itself a deadly predator of honey bees and other pollinators in Europe and Asia. An ideal scenario would be the discovery and eradication of every established nest before the colonies have time to issue new queens who overwinter and start the life cycle over again next spring.” 

The Department has two teams of four deployed in the Savannah area that are actively trapping and surveying for additional nests, and these teams have placed 134 traps in the area around the initial detection. So far, confirmed detections of the yellow-legged hornet have been made in twelve separate locations around Wilmington Island, Whitemarsh Island, and Thunderbolt, GA. Nine of these detections were reported to the Department by citizens and three were captured in traps set by Department staff. The Department continues to explore options to more efficiently and effectively trap and track the yellow-legged hornet and recently received electronic monitoring equipment from the Washington Department of Agriculture, which will be put into use in the coming days.

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