|
Volume 26, No. 11 Published by the Georgia Agribusiness Council, Inc. March 24, 2017
|
|
Lawmakers are at work today under the gold dome for day 38 of the 40-day legislative session. While some bills have advanced this week, there is much gnashing of teeth as to how the final days of the session might end. The truth is, now that the FY 2018 budget is finalized (we have details below), the essential work of the Georgia General Assembly is basically complete. Budget issues are rarely finished this early in the session, so this is somewhat new ground. The stage is set for an unpredictable final two days of the session.
|
|
|
AG WEEK IN GEORGIA
This entire week was a great celebration of our industry and presented in a way that shared the message of farms, food, families, and faces is several new ways. We are proud to be among the many partners in these initiatives and we greatly appreciate the leadership of Governor Deal and Agriculture Commissioner Gary Black leading the charge. Activities included PB&J Day at the Capitol, a "Faces of Agriculture" display, the annual Flavor of Georgia contest to showcase Georgia food products, an Ag Hero into classroom initiative, agriculture books read in school classrooms, and wraps up today with a “Make My Plate Georgia Grown Day” promoting local products in school cafeterias across the state.
|
|
|
GAC's Bryan Tolar joins Ag Commissioner Gary Black, House Ag Chairman Tom McCall, and GFB's Jeffrey Harvey for PBJ sammiches.
|
|
|
GAC member
Hardy Farms brought a variety of their great peanut products to the Capitol to share with lawmakers and law enforcement.
|
|
A special congratulations to GAC member Everett Williams of WDairy for being selected as Georgia's 2017 Farmer of the Year! He and his family were on hand to receive the award from Governor Deal in Atlanta. Everett will attend the Sunbelt Ag Expo and be considered for the Southeast Farmer of the Year along with the winners from other states. Congratulations Everett, Carol and the entire Williams family!
|
|
|
It was also a great week as GAC board member Sonny Perdue was vetted by the U.S. Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee on Thursday. We are very proud of his service to our organization and for his lifetime of leadership for agriculture and Georgia. While we have enjoyed his leadership as Secretary of our organization, we welcome his new title as Secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture in the weeks ahead. Click here to see the full video of the confirmation hearing. Well done!
|
|
|
BIG LOSSES FOR AGRICULTURE IN RECENT WEEKS
While we celebrate so much that is great about our industry,
we are also aware that many farms and agribusinesses are hurting from losses sustained in the tornadoes and freezing temps that impacted our industry in recent weeks.
The House and Senate Agriculture Committees received updates this week from the Georgia Department of Agriculture (GDA) on Wednesday. Commissioner of Agriculture Gary Black and his staff reported the late season freeze devastated Georgia’s fruit and vegetable crops with blueberries taking the brunt of the impact.
Blueberry losses are expected to be 60% - 75%, resulting in an estimated $300 million economic loss. Peach losses are expected to exceed 50% and vegetable crops were also hit hard. As bad as these losses are in Georgia, we understand North Carolina and South Carolina were impacted much worse. Growers are very focused on getting assistance from the crop insurance programs. Those that enrolled in crop insurance coverage need this support to help them stay in business for the 2018 growing season. Unfortunately, young groves and orchards may not yet qualify for crop insurance.
The losses are indeed devastating.
Here is the link
to a GDA press release on crop damage due to the freeze.
|
|
We appreciate
Growing Georgia
for running this video of
GAC Board Chairman Jimmy Champion
discussing the tornado damage to his farm, Champion Groves, near Albany. Jimmy lost 1,365 pecan trees in addition to other damage. Many others are also coping with the losses created by the storms and we continue to pray for these damages areas. This is a great video about loss - and hope. Click here to sign up for their free reports on ag news.
|
|
|
We appreciate the excellent engagement in our poll last week. Our question was:
Would you like to see casinos and gambling in Georgia?
Here is how you voted:
1. No, it would bring too many problems that Georgia doesn't need (64%)
2. Yes, I think it could benefit Georgia (23%)
3. Undecided (13%)
|
|
|
Which of these US Dept of Ag (USDA) responsibilities would you like to see be more of a focus?
|
|
Help lead in the development of farm labor programs
|
|
|
|
|
Advance public hearings in the southeast for the upcoming Farm Bill
|
|
|
|
|
Rework USDA programs to improve the viability of dairy farms
|
|
|
|
|
Play a direct role with U.S. EPA in crafting regulations impacting agriculture
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
BACK AT THE CAPITOL
The Georgia General Assembly will be back in session on Tuesday and then wrap up the session on Thursday of next week. Several key bills did advance this week and we expect to hit the finish line with very good results from the legislative session. The committee process has wrapped up, so now it comes down to a strong final push to get the outcomes desired. We are 11 weeks into this process - we assure you the GAC staff remains very active to see that we indeed finish strong. Here's the latest on bills that saw action this week:
|
|
|
BUDGET
As previously mentioned, HB 44, the $25 billion FY 2018 budget, was finalized this week by the House and Senate and has advanced to the desk of Governor Deal. We are very pleased to provide this video with House Appropriations Committee Chairman Terry England (Auburn) for a quick summary of the state funding of issues important to agriculture. Also, click here to access our comments on Southeast AgNet.
|
SOLAR PANELS AND CUVA
HB 238 by Rep. Matt Hatchett (Dublin), and with the assistance of Sen. Tyler Harper (Ocilla), passed the full Senate on Wednesday by a vote of 42-9. We joined other allies working the ropes outside the Senate Chamber to stave off attempts to amend the bill. We are very pleased with the bill in its current form.
As mentioned last week, we were successful in updating the definition of “family farm entity” to now include ‘entities created by the merger of two or more entities which independently qualify as a family owned farm entity.’ Several GAC members have expressed the importance of this change and we are very pleased it is included in the bill. The solar panel provisions allow installation on Conservation Use Valuation Assessment (CUVA) or Forest Land Protection Act (FLPA) land, but a penalty for breach of the area where the solar panels are installed is required. The bill also includes a carve out for farm worker housing if it is provided to workers at no charge – this will aid those utilizing the H2A or H2B farm worker programs. It must now go back to the House for their final approval of the new language, but we are very close!
|
|
LIVESTOCK LIABILITY
HB 50 by Rep. Clay Pirkle (Ashburn) seeks to extend the current liability protections covering llamas and equine to also include livestock (cattle, goats, sheep, and swine). The goal of the legislation is to support opportunities for 4-H, FFA, and ag education students in addition to the expansion of local livestock shows. This is a priority issue for the Georgia Cattlemen's Association and all of the ag groups are working to get it on the Senate floor for a vote next week.
|
RURAL GEORGIA INVESTMENT INITIATIVES
HB 314, the "Georgia Agribusiness and Rural Jobs Act," has been held up in the Senate Finance Committee the past three weeks. Prospects of getting this bill passed in 2017 are fading, however, there are a few maneuvers that could get it to the finish line - but it is a long shot. We understand the challenges facing rural Georgia when it comes to financing and we appreciate the excellent work by GAC member Rep. Jason Shaw to push this initiative.
HB 73 by Rep. Penny Houston (Nashville) called the “Revitalization of Vacant Rural Georgia Act,” is designed to encourage investment, job creation, and economic growth in long-established business districts with the incentive of tax credits in rural downtown areas. In an area with a population of 15,000 or less, a business is able receive up to a $2,000 tax credit for five years in which new full-time equivalent jobs are created and maintained. Another tax credit would compensate the business with 25% of the purchase price of the building and up to 50% of the rehabilitation costs. Many view this as an important step by the General Assembly to help keep small towns across the state sustainable and viable for future growth opportunities. This bill is very much in play and could see a vote next week.
|
AG EDUCATION
HB 437
by
Rep. Robert Dickey (Musella)
would create the
Agricultural Education Advisory Commission
. A similar initiative has been utilized in the past with great success. The purpose of the commission is to provide direction to develop instructional strategies to teach specific agriculture standards from elementary through high school, then integrate these standards into a broad range of academic subject areas. It was initially scheduled to be heard Monday but it will be debated on the floor of the Senate today.
|
|
AD VALOREM TAX EXEMPTION ON LEASED FARM EQUIPMENT
HB 290
by
Rep. Sam Watson
(Moultrie) was also scheduled to be discussed on the Senate floor on Monday but got moved to today. We expect it to pass today and then advance to the desk of Governor Deal. This simple bill has a very important goal of helping ensure Georgia county tax assessors fully understand that leased farm equipment for family farm operations is NOT subject to property tax.
|
|
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Not long after Rural Caucus Chairman Rep. Sam Watson (Moultrie) introduced HR 389 creating the House Rural Development Council, the Senate introduced SR 392 that would create their own group that would look to address the problems facing rural Georgia. The Senate Rural Georgia Study Committee will consist of seven members of the Senate that will be appointed by the Lt. Governor.
We applaud both of these initiatives to explore rural area challenges all across the state.
|
|
UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLES
HB 481 by House Transportation Chairman Kevin Tanner (Dawsonville) limits local regulations on unmanned aircraft or drones. The concern was that if cities and municipalities were allowed individual autonomy regarding drones, the state would become a patchwork of regulations. Local governments that already have laws in place will stand but any new ordinances must fall under the guidelines set by the Federal Aviation Administration. With new advances in drone technology and agriculture, we view this as a positive step forward. It will be up for a vote on the Senate floor today.
|
|
REGULATORY REFORM
SB 2
, also known as the “Fast Act,” has come to a complete stop. Authored by Sen. Mike Dugan (Carrollton), this is a major initiative to improve regulatory clarity, certainty and accountability for professions and businesses regarding local rule-making by counties and cities. Standing for Fairness, Accountability, Simplification, and Transparency, it seeks to reduce regulatory burdens on businesses, facilitate the start of new businesses, provide for schedules of fees and timelines for permits and licenses, and provide for discounted fees when deadlines are not met. It was tabled in committee on Wednesday and we expect it won't be picked back up until next year.
|
|
|
Agri-Business Supply Inc.
DeWitt Produce Co. Inc.
Gillis Bros. Inc.
Leatherbrook Holsteins LLC
|
|
A.M. Bickley Inc.
Barrington Dairies
Bay Branch Farms, Inc.
Choice Wood Inc.
Clay Co. & Associates
Curry Farm Supply Inc.
Doug Hopkins
GA Ag. Commodity Commission for Tobacco
GA Association of Professional Ag. Consultants
Georgia Watermelon Association
Greg Sikes Farm, LLC
Saddle Creek Farm
Vidalia Onion Business Council
|
|
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!
|
|
*Hurry...nominations for the Advancing Georgia's Leaders (AGL) program close at the end of March. The Council is pleased to be a founding sponsor of the AGL program. It is a proven leadership program for agriculture, forestry, and natural resource interests to help build awareness and strengthen relationships that will aid participants in the future. AGL is an 18-month program that includes an optional, six-day, international experience. The in-state curriculum takes place in 18 days and is designed with over 90 interactive sessions that include engagement with industry speakers, field experiences, personality assessments, and soft-skills training.
Nominations are currently open for the 2017 Class. To participate, you must be nominated by someone in agriculture, forestry, or supporting industries. Nominations will close March 31, 2017. Click here for information on applying for the program. After nominations are received and reviewed, applications will be sent to qualifying nominees.
|
|
*Registration is now live for the Georgia Forestry Association's 2017 Annual Conference and Forestry Expo on July 21-23 in Jekyll Island.
Click here for more info.
|
|
*The Georgia Plant Food Educational Society will be having their Summer meeting July 23rd - 26th at the Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island. Register today!
|
|
|
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. Georgia Agribusiness Council | 706-336-6830 |
WWW.GA-AGRIBUSINESS.ORG
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
