2017 Georgia Agribusiness Council weekly legislative report 
Volume 26, No. 10       Published by the Georgia Agribusiness Council, Inc.       March 17, 2017

This week was awkward from the start as Monday began with an early morning Capitol lock-down while first-responders scoured the area for hazardous materials. The real hazards surfaced on Tuesday and Wednesday nights as the cold temps destroyed millions in crops with freeze damage. Agriculture Commissioner Gary Black, House Ag Chairman Tom McCall and others are surveying the damage to peaches, strawberries, Vidalia onions, blueberries and more as they tour the state today. Foul weather has certainly done a lot of damage to ag and forestry this year – yet another reminder of how little control we have on the livelihood that benefits everyone. We are very sorry to hear of the crop losses by many across the state.

In addition, there are confirmed reports of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in Tennessee. Biosecurity is key to limiting these outbreaks. We appreciate the leadership of the Georgia Poultry Federation to advance education efforts with their www.allinallgone.com website.

Thanks for the great participation in our QUICK POLL last week. 
Our question was: Which of the following do you believe is the biggest threat to agricultural production?
Here is how you voted:
1. Consumers with little knowledge of ag technology & food production (38%)
2. Elected leaders with no interest in plant and animal production (37%)
3. Radical environmentalists such as the Sierra Club (21%)
4. Animal rights activists such as the Humane Society of the US (4%)
QUICK POLL #4:  Casino gambling is a popular topic at the State Capitol. No legislation on casinos will pass this year but we welcome your input on the issue.
Would you like to see casinos and gambling in Georgia?
Yes, I think it could benefit Georgia.
No, it would bring too many problems that Georgia doesn't need.
Undecided

AGRITRUST ISSUES $400K DIVIDEND
We applaud the news that our AgriTrust of Georgia workers’ compensation insurance program as a new $400,000 dividend was just issued! This is the 24th such dividend, totaling $5,925,000.00 paid to qualified AgriTrust participants. Now in the 24th year of service to GAC members, we are so thankful that many of our members are utilizing this program. If you would like to learn more about how this program can serve your workers compensation insurance needs, please go to www.agritrust.biz or call 855-753-0016.
Georgia is celebrating Ag Day for the whole week starting Monday as the Georgia Peanut Commission and National Peanut Buying Points Association host Peanut Butter & Jelly Day at the State Capitol. From 9:00 'til noon on March 20, hundreds of delicious, grilled PB&J sammiches will be served to lawmakers and staff. GAC is proud to be a sponsor of this annual event. Other sponsors include Kroger, Georgia Farm Bureau, Georgia Federal State Inspection Service, Hardy Farms, Peanut Proud, The Peanut Institute, University of Georgia Peanut Team and the Atlanta Community Food Bank. Other Ag Day (Week) activities are listed at the end of the newsletter. Thanks to all for showcasing our great industry!

BACK AT THE CAPITOL

Just five legislative days remain in the 2017 session and lawmakers will be back at work in Atlanta on Monday. Several bills of interest advanced this week, including the FY 2018 state budget. The final squeeze through the committee process will have to take place next week for some bills of interest but time is still on our side. It was a good week for CUVA, solar, stream buffers, and livestock liability…just need to keep the momentum growing.

Here’s an update on several bills that are important to our industry: 

SOLAR PANELS AND CUVA
HB 238 by Rep. Matt Hatchett (Dublin) finally cleared the Senate Finance Committee this week after undergoing a few more changes. Two attempts at amendments that would have had a negative impact to the bill were both defeated in the committee. We were successful in adding an updated definition of a “family farm entity” which now includes ‘entities created by the merger of two or more entities which independently qualify as a family owned farm entity.’ This will aid farm operations that have consolidated or may do so in the future but may not be family related to better ensure they will qualify for CUVA. The solar panel provisions allow installation on Conservation Use Valuation Assessment (CUVA) or Forest Land Protection Act (FLPA) land, however, a penalty for breach of the area where the solar panels are installed is required. It also added a carve out for farm worker housing if it is provided to workers at no charge. This is a needed benefit for those utilizing the H2A or H2B farm worker programs. It must now pass the full Senate and then go back to the House for their final approval of the new language. Sen. Tyler Harper (Ocilla) will handle the bill in the Senate. A lot of work remains to get this to the finish line...  
LIVESTOCK LIABILITY
HB 50 by Rep. Clay Pirkle (Ashburn) looks to provide much needed liability protections for those engaged in managing cattle, goats, sheep, and swine. This will benefit FFA, 4-H, and ag education students - in addition to the expansion of local livestock shows. We were pleased that it moved through the Senate Agriculture Committee on Wednesday and is now poised to get a vote on the Senate floor in the remaining weeks. We have cleared a lot of hurdles in the past but failed to get it to the finish line. This year looks to be different. Five legislative days remain to lasso this legislation and get it to the desk of Governor Deal. 
STATE BUDGET
 HB 44 , the FY 2018 budget passed the Senate Appropriations Committee and the full Senate this week. Senate Appropriations Chairman Jack Hill (Reidsville) has long served in this leadership role and does an excellent job. The $25 billion budget adjusts several funding areas compared to what was passed by the House. Here is an update on some of the high-points related to ag interests:

U GA Experiment Station and Extension Service maintained the much-needed boost to their maintenance and operations budgets of $4.12 million and $2.14 million, respectively. The Veterinary Medicine Experiment Station and the Poultry Diagnostic Research Laboratory saw reductions in funds for new field services clinical veterinarians dedicated to food animal practice and for disease surveillance. These funds are adjusted through delayed start dates. The Georgia Department of Agriculture saw a slight decrease in funding for food safety, plant and animal industry positions. The Senate doubled the House proposal by providing $5 million in 20-year bonds to design, construct and equip the renovation of the Poultry Science Research Facilities in Athens. The Senate also maintained the $1.2 million in 20-year bonds to design, construct and equip the Georgia Grown building in Perry. The FY 2018 process will now head to a joint “conference committee” to iron out the House and Senate differences.
WATER RESOURCES
SR 152 by Sen. Frank Ginn  (Danielsville) passed out of the House unanimously on Thursday. You’ll recall it is the Senate version of House initiative HR 362 and would create a joint study committee to explore issues related to stream buffers on state waters. We support this study committee process to ensure property rights and environmental stewardship are considered before any new laws are created. HR 362, by House Natural Resource & Environment Chair Lynn Smith (Newnan) will be on the Senate floor on Monday.

RURAL GEORGIA INVESTMENT INITIATIVES
HB 73 by Rep. Penny Houston (Nashville) saw her “Revitalization of Vacant Rural Georgia Act” advance through the Senate Finance Committee this week. It’s 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. Hopefully, this will help keep small towns across the state sustainable and viable for future growth opportunities. We hope to see it on the Senate floor for a vote soon.

In addition, HB 314, the "Georgia Agribusiness and Rural Jobs Act" is expected to be discussed next week in the Senate Finance Committee. Click here to see a brief video presentation on this legislation by Rep. Jason Shaw. 
FOREST LAND PROTECTION
Constitutional amendment HR 51 and its enabling legislation, HB 85 by House Ways & Means Chairman Jay Powell (Camilla), is a much needed effort to reform the process for determining fair market value for forestland. It passed the House two weeks ago but will not advance further this session as more information is collected on the financial impact of this initiative. Since it is a constitutional amendment, it wouldn’t even appear on the ballot until 2018, so time is not an issue. Congrats to the Georgia Forestry Association on leading this effort. We look for this discussion to take root again next year. 
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 passed the Senate Education & Youth Committee unanimously on Monday and should reach the Senate floor for a vote soon.
AD VALOREM TAX EXEMPTION ON LEASED FARM EQUIPMENT
HB 290  by  Rep. Sam Watson  (Moultrie) passed the House last week with a 163 - 1 vote. We are encouraged by the progress of this legislation that will help a long list of Georgia counties understand that leased farm equipment to family farm operations is NOT subject to property tax. Our thanks remain with Rep. Sam Watson for leading the charge. It will be up for a vote on the Senate floor on Monday. 
HUNTING AND FISHING LICENSES
HB 208 by Rep. Trey Rhodes (Greensboro) passed the Senate Natural Resources Committee on Wednesday with overwhelming support. This bill raises fees for hunting, trapping and fishing licenses. The boost in revenue will be re-invested in fish and wildlife programs. This initiative is coming from Governor Deal's team and now heads to the full Senate for a vote.
A.M. Bickley Inc.
Barrington Dairies
Bay Branch Farms, Inc.
Choice Wood Inc.
Clay Co. & Associates
Curry Farm Supply Inc.
 Davis M. Love III and Robin B. Love 
Docia Farms
Doerun Gin Co. Inc.
Doug Hopkins
GA Ag. Commodity Commission for Tobacco
GA Association of Professional Ag. Consultants
Georgia Peach Council
Georgia Poultry Federation
Georgia Seed Association Inc.
Georgia Watermelon Association
Greg Sikes Farm, LLC
Hattaway Farms Partnerships
Holifield Farms Inc.
Israel Farm Supply Inc.
J & B Irrigation Inc.
KAKEGA LLC
Leger & Son, Inc.
Majors Electric & Mechanical Co., Inc.
Oak Hill Farm
Pike Creek Turf, Inc.
Pitts Insurance Agency Inc.
Plantation Seed Conditioners, Inc.
Quality Gin, Inc.
Saddle Creek Farm
Swainsboro Stockyard
TriEst Ag Group, Inc.
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!
REGULATORY REFORM
SB 2, also known as the “Fast Act,” has lost some steam since being assigned to the House Small Business Committee. 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. The bill is backed by a long list of key leaders in the Senate but the complexities of the bill have merited several changes since passing the Senate. It was discussed thoroughly in committee on Wednesday and we expect to see revised language next week.
LAST CALL FOR GAC DIRECTORY ADVERTISEMENTS

The Council staff is preparing our 2017-2018 GAC Membership Directory. As you may know, our biannual publication provides GAC members with our current 1080+ membership list, associations and organizations, Georgia legislative information, congressional contacts and more. A mailer was distributed this week to members to update their information – so please make sure our database is current with your contact information. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to advertise! If you are interested in placing an ad in the directory, please see call Maggie Wooten at 707-336-6830. All ads will need to be received by March 20, 2017. Thank you!
GRAPEVINE
*The Senate Agriculture Committee will consider Sonny Perdue’s nomination as Secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture on March 23. 

*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.
  AG WEEK IS FINALLY HERE

*Georgia Ag Week: The Georgia Department of Agriculture is leading our state’s biggest and best industry in a one-week collection of activities. Here are the plans:
Monday, March 20 - Seasons & Faces of Georgia Agriculture
Sloppy Floyd Building Plaza, Atlanta
The Georgia Department of Agriculture’s photo exhibit featuring farmers throughout the state will be displayed in the plaza of the James H. “Sloppy” Floyd Veterans Memorial Building.  The building houses the Capitol Commons food court, a popular lunch destination for state employees.
Tuesday, March 21- Flavor of Georgia
Old Train Depot, Atlanta
The University of Georgia’s College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences will once again be hosting their annual Flavor of Georgia Contest to showcase delicious Georgia food products. Visit www.flavorofga.com or contact Sharon Kane at spkane@uga.edu for more info. This event is by invitation only.
Wednesday, March 22- Ag Hero Day (Statewide)
The Georgia Department of Agriculture invites you to celebrate agriculture heroes in your community by writing a note to farmers thanking them for the food and fiber they provide in our daily lives. Schools are encouraged to invite a local Ag Hero into classrooms to discuss the importance of agriculture and the impact farming has on our economy.  A “Pennies for Produce” Drive will be held in schools to collect funds for food banks across the state to purchase local produce when in season.
Thursday, March 23- Ag Literacy Day (Statewide)
With the guidance of Georgia Farm Bureau, the Georgia Department of Agriculture is encouraging all of our local and state partners to read a designated agriculture literacy book to a local school classroom. Contact Donna Rocker at dhrocker@gfb.org for classroom activities and more info.
Friday, March 24- Make My Plate Georgia Grown Day (Statewide)
The Georgia Department of Agriculture’s Farm to School Program and the Georgia Department of Education’s School Nutrition Program have partnered together to create a Georgia Grown menu to feature local products in school cafeteria’s across the state. The Georgia Department of Agriculture and the Department of Education, School Nutrition is encouraging local and state partners to visit a school cafeteria in your community and enjoy a tasty Georgia Grown lunch.

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