2017 Georgia Agribusiness Council weekly legislative report 
Volume 26, No. 1       Published by the Georgia Agribusiness Council, Inc.       January 13, 2017
Your State Capitol is open for business! With the 2017 session underway, we look forward to bringing GAC members these weekly Inside Agriculture reports each Friday. We ask that you use it as a resource to engage with legislators on issues impacting your agribusiness.

The capitol is quiet today as lawmakers headed home Thursday afternoon, having completed the first 4 days of the session.  The biggest news of the week was finalizing the House and Senate committee lists. We are very pleased that Rep. Tom McCall will continue as the House Ag Committee Chairman and Sen. John Wilkinson remains the Senate Ag Committee Chairman. It was great to see friends Rep. Robert Dickey and Rep. Jason Shaw obtain key roles on the House Appropriations Committee as they, and others, advance in their leadership roles. Good stuff!



Budget hearings will occupy next week as lawmakers dive into the FY 2018 budget offered by Governor Deal on Wednesday. We will take a close look at the Governor's budget proposal as we hear from state leaders during the upcoming hearings. We also have a few bills for your review below. As always, let us know when we can be of assistance to you this legislative session.
UPCOMING EVENTS
We are just a few weeks away from the GAC Membership Supper & Annual Meeting and the GAC State Legislative Breakfast. Our Feb. 7 Annual Meeting and Membership Supper features Wesley Langdale of The Langdale Company as the keynote speaker. We encourage you to make plans to attend this limited seating event.
The GAC State Legislative Breakfast is pleased to have confirmed the attendance of Governor Deal, Lt. Governor Cagle, House Speaker David Ralston, Agriculture Commissioner Gary Black, Senate Ag Chairman John Wilkinson, and House Ag Chairman Tom McCall. We hope you will make plans to join us along with these state leaders. If you would like to order tickets or co-host the legislative breakfast with a table sponsorship, please click the button below or call 706-336-6830.
LIVESTOCK LIABILITY LIMITATION
HB 50 is familiar territory from last year. This bill by Rep. Clay Pirkle  would provide liability protection for those entities that engage participants in non-profit livestock activities that include grazing, herding, feeding, branding, boarding, milking, inspecting, or evaluating. It would require entities that host such events to place designated warning signs to obtain these limitations. This is a good bill that the trial lawyers fight us on each time. It has been assigned to the House Judiciary Committee.
LIVESTOCK DEALER SURETY REQUIREMENTS
HB 49 would pave the way to improved licensing for livestock dealers and sale barns. This bill was a fast mover last year, but was sidetracked along the way. It establishes a three year livestock market operator license with a fee not to exceed $200. The triennial fee for a livestock dealer license would be no more than $25.00. It would also put in place “surety” (bond) requirement to aid in the prevention of nonpayment or contract purchase failure by a licensed livestock market operator or a livestock dealer. Rep. Clay Pirkle will again lead the charge on this issue. It has been assigned to the House Agriculture Committee.

CONSOLIDATION OF ABAC AND BAINBRIDGE STATE COLLEGE FINALIZED
On Wednesday in Atlanta, the University System of Georgia Board of Regents approved the merger of Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College (ABAC) and Bainbridge State College. Both institutions will be named Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College and will be led by current ABAC President David Bridges. Currently, ABAC has a student enrollment of 3,475 and Bainbridge State has 2,468. Some GAC members raised questions about the merger and any potential impact on the success of ABAC. We shared these concerns with the Board of Regents Chancellor Dr. Tommy Hopkins and Chancellor Steve Wrigley.  We also expressed our desire to ensure the continued success of ABAC and how important it is to our membership and all of agriculture. Chancellor Wrigley stated his commitment to see ABAC build on the success achieved by ABAC President David Bridges. The new consolidated institution could be in place by early 2018.
ALBANY RECOVERING FROM STORM DAMAGE
News of the devastation to the Albany area from weather events on January 2, 2017, has been slow to surface statewide, but lawmakers have been paying close attention this week. Reports of at least nine tornadoes and straight line hit Albany, generating upwards of $16 million in damages.  These losses include significant farm related loses, including irrigation pivots, farm equipment, and trees.  We were pleased that Governor Deal and local legislators surveyed the damages this week. In addition, we thank Congressman Sanford Bishop and his staff for their help with the disaster declaration and the coordination with GEMA and FEMA regarding the formal Joint Preliminary Damage Assessment (PMA) this week. Prayers continue for the families and communities impacted by the storm.
DEEPEST SYMPATHIES
Georgia agriculture lost two great friends over the past few days. Mr. Hal Haddock was a great man and longtime GAC member. He carried the heart of agriculture and rural Georgia with pride and we were proud to stand side-by-side with him in battles over water rights. In addition, Mr. Harvey Lemmon was a key fixture in the livestock sector and especially the Georgia Cattlemen’s Association. Harvey was an innovative leader in the cattle industry and was devoted to making a positive impact for agriculture in Georgia. These men will be missed by all that knew them. Please keep their families in your thoughts and prayers. We are thankful for their years of friendship and for their contributions to agriculture.
  Hal Haddock                 Harvey Lemmon
Special thanks to our 2017 Star Sponsors listed below. We welcome having GAC member companies be a part of this initiative. Please call our office at 706-336-6830 or  click here for details . Thank you!
GEORGIA RURAL CAUCUS
Wednesday, we were proud to sponsor the luncheon for the first meeting of the Rural Caucus this session. With a turnout of over 70 legislators, we were able to share a summary of the Council while stressing the importance of our industry and the network of our membership all across the state. The Rural Caucus is an important, diverse group of lawmakers that are familiar with many of the issues impacting agricultural communities.

During the meeting, Chairman of the Rural Caucus and GAC member, Rep. Jason Shaw announced he would be stepping down from the Chairman position after four years of service. Soon after, the caucus nominated Rep. Sam Watson for the position and was voted in unanimously. Watson, who is also a member of the Council, has been in office since 2013. We are honored and excited to work with Chairman Watson and the members of this caucus.
2017 AG FORECAST SEMINARS
Georgia Ag Forecast is organized by the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences and supported by Georgia Farm Bureau, Georgia Department of Agriculture, and the Georgia Agribusiness Council. This annual seminar series helps predict markets with a variety of topics and information for growers and agribusiness. Participants will get to network with UGA faculty and UGA Cooperative Extension agents, local producers and other stakeholders, and will leave the meeting with a copy of the latest Georgia Ag Forecast book, which is designed to provide a detailed analysis of major commodities produced in the state. Tickets are available at www.georgiaagforecast.com. The 2017 seminar dates include:
  • Wednesday, January 18: Macon (GA Farm Bureau Building)
  • Thursday, January 19: Marietta (Cobb County Civic Center)
  • Friday, January 20: Carrollton (Carroll County Ag Center)
  • Monday, January 23: Tifton (UGA Tifton Campus Conference Center)
  • Tuesday, January 24: Bainbridge (Decatur County Ag Center)
  • Wednesday, January 25: Lyons (Toombs County Ag Center)
  • Thursday, January 26: Waynesboro (Burke County Office Park)
  • Friday, January 27: Athens (Georgia Center for Continuing Education)
GRAPEVINE
* The Georgia Plant Food Educational Society held their Winter Meeting this week in Tifton. Thanks to Jimmy Champion and the GPFES board for having us provide a legislative preview on Tuesday. Dr. Glen Harris finished out his two-year term as Board Chairman and fellow GAC member Roy Embry now has the reigns. GAC is pleased to be a part of this event and to work with this very engaged organization. 

* The  2017 Georgia Dairy Conference   will be held January 16-18, 2017 at the Savannah Riverfront Marriott.  Click here for more details   .

* The 41st annual  Georgia Peanut Farm Show and Conference   will be held at the UGA Tifton Campus Conference Center January 19, 2017.   For more information, click here .

* Forestry Day at the Capitol is February 8. It provides an opportunity to network with legislators, public officials and decision makers while catching up Georgia Forestry Association friends, fellow forestry professionals, and landowners. Click here for details.

* The 2017 Georgia Agritourism Association’s Annual Conference will be held February 27 – March 1. This is a great opportunity for people to tour Georgia Agritourism operations, network, and learn about the latest in effective marketing strategies, on-farm activities that work, and hear first-hand testimonials from agritourism operators about their success. Call 706-845-9085 for more info.  

* We hope you will make plans to join us at the  Georgia FFA Foundation Blue & Gold Gala slated for Friday, March 10 at the St. Regis Buckhead hotel in Atlanta.  Click here for details .

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.

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