February 18, 2015
www.gfb.org
Vol. 33 No. 7
UGA VET SCHOOL DEDICATES NEW MEDICAL CENTER IN ATHENS The University of Georgia held a dedication ceremony Feb. 13 for its new 300,000 square-foot Veterinary Medical Center located on College Station Road in Athens. Between 800 to 900 people attended the event and took self-guided tours of the facility after the ribbon cutting. The center, which officially opens for patients March 25, includes a teaching hospital for small and large animals, clinical labs to support the hospital and an education center that houses classrooms and an auditorium. The teaching hospital is roughly 140,000 square feet and includes facilities for small and large animals. UGA President Jere Morehead said planning for the new center began during the administrations of former Gov. Sonny Perdue and past UGA President Michael Adams. Morehead thanked Gov. Nathan Deal for continuing support of the center and making it a top priority. “This world class facility will support our College of Veterinary Medicine and will facilitate student learning and provide outstanding patient care,” Morehead said in remarks at the dedication ceremony. “This facility will have a transforming presence not only in Athens but across our state and beyond. This center is honoring our great land-grant tradition at the University of Georgia.” Gov. Deal thanked the Georgia General Assembly for approving the $65 million in state funds that helped build the $97 million facility and the alumni and stakeholders who financed the remaining costs with private donations. “One of the things that makes a project go further and got our attention was that there was a private funding component,” Deal said. “Most of us know and we say we’re proud of the fact that agriculture is still the number one industry in our state. What we are doing here is an important part of continuing to grow this segment of our economy. Veterinarians inspect meat, they treat large animals and they treat small animals. They do the things that protect our quality of life.” The hospital includes a 24-hour, pull-through breezeway for large animal emergencies and a -continued
GFB News Alert page 2 of 10 -UGA vet school, continued hydraulic chute system to be used with cattle designed to keep them calm during treatment. The large animal surgery center will provide 24-hour surgical care and treatment for horses, cattle and small ruminants. This area of the hospital features four operating rooms and was designed to minimize stress on the animals and maximize animal safety with an extensive hoist system, catwalk access between padded anesthesia rooms and recovery stalls and wide hallways. Dr. Sheila Allen, dean of the UGA College of Veterinary Medicine thanked former Gov. Sonny Perdue for seeing the value in building the new medical center for the veterinary college and investing in veterinary medicine education. “This medical hospital represents a huge investment. The return on this investment can be found when you crack an egg or pour a glass of milk for breakfast, when you watch birds flying through the air, or when you come home after a stressful day and pet your dog or cat,” Allen said. “When you {citizens of Georgia} ponder whether this investment is worth it, I hope you’ll agree we are well worth it.” Perdue, speaking to GFB media after the ceremony, said, “It feels great to be here at the opening, particularly being a member of the UGA Veterinary College Class of 1971. It’s an amazing place to learn and all Georgians and surrounding states will benefit. It’s been a long process to build it, but everyone has been very generous to fund this project.” According to vet school officials, third and fourth-year students will study at the new medical center. First and second-year vet school students will remain on the main UGA campus along with the majority of the vet college’s basic science departments and administrative offices. “The individuals immediately benefiting from this new hospital are the students achieving an education, but in the long run the residents of Georgia will benefit from the education we receive here,” said UGA College of Veterinary Medicine sophomore Robert James Cotton III, speaking on behalf of his fellow students during the dedication ceremony. Construction on the vet medical center, designed by Perkins & Will and built by Turner Construction Company, began in spring 2013. The five-building complex includes a covered arena that will be used to evaluate equine performance and lameness. The arena, funded by the UGA Athletic Association, includes different surfaces on which to examine horses, two exam rooms and an area for farriers to examine horseshoes and shoe horses. The new medical center will allow the vet school to offer rehabilitation services for small animals recovering from orthopedic procedures through the use of water treadmills, laser therapy, balance equipment, electrical stimulation and therapeutic ultrasound. It will also offer oncology treatment for small animals. “This facility will place the college on more equal footing with our peer hospitals across the country,” said Gary Baxter, director of the UGA Veterinary Medical Center. “This facility will further improve our clinical teaching and our clinical service within the hospital. To the public I’d like to say, ‘We will always be here when you need us.’ ” The UGA College of Veterinary Medicine was founded in 1946. The college enrolls 114 students each fall out of the more than 900 who apply. Once vacated, the current teaching hospital built in 1979 on the main UGA campus, will be repurposed for research space to support first and second-year student instruction, according to a release issued by the UGA vet school. The UGA Community Practice Clinic, which serves as a wellness clinic for companion animals in the Athens area, will remain in its current location on the main UGA campus.
GFB News Alert page 3 of 10 UGA CAES TO SELL WILKINS FARM EAST OF ATHENS The University of Georgia will begin taking bids next month to sell an 865-acre cattle farm just east of Athens, one of the final steps in a plan to reorganize the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences’ properties near the main campus, according to a UGA press release. In 2012, Dean J. Scott Angle began a strategic realignment of the college’s Athens-area farm properties. “These decisions were driven by difficult economic conditions, reduced budgets for maintenance expenses, and an opportunity to sell a valuable 522-acre farm,” Angle said. “The college had a prime opportunity to consolidate and streamline our property holdings and farm operations to become leaner and more efficient in our research facilities.” The research operation within the college maintains two basic types of farms – farms for crop and plant research and farms for animal and dairy science research. “The sale of the 522-acre Plant Sciences Farm in Oconee County necessitated the purchase of a 660-acre farm, primarily located in Greene County for relocating crop research,” Angle said. “The remaining funds have been directed toward maintenance and operations of our other farms and agricultural research facilities as well as providing some funding to increase the college's endowment.” In 2013, the USDA gifted a 1,055-acre farm in Oconee County that will serve several needs, especially as a Beef Cattle research farm. “Acquisition of the J. Phil Campbell Farm near Watkinsville made it possible for us to offer for sale our beef cattle farm in Oglethorpe County, which is almost an hour’s drive from the UGA main campus,” Angle said. The University of Georgia will accept bids for the beef cattle farm until March 13. Details are available online at http://tinyurl.com/wilkinssale. Interested bidders may tour the property Feb. 19 from 8:30 a.m. to noon and Feb. 23 from 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. “The sale of this farm will allow us to continue our streamlining and efficiency efforts to make the college more productive and our properties more cost effective as we strive to serve Georgia’s growing agriculture industry and the people of Georgia,” Angle said. U.S. DISTRICT COURT DISMISSES POULTRY INSPECTION SUIT On Feb. 9 the United States District Court for the District of Columbia dismissed Food and Water Watch’s (FWW) lawsuit against the USDA over the department’s implementation of the National Poultry Inspection System (NPIS). In the suit filed in September 2014, FWW sought a permanent injunction to stop the USDA from putting NPIS in place. The NPIS would reorganize poultry inspection so that federal inspectors are removed from the sorting process, allowing them to focus on things like compliance with sanitation standards or conducting food safety assessments. In the court’s dismissal, District Court Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson wrote that FWW and its co-plaintiffs failed to show any actual injury resulting from the implementation of the NPIS and therefore had no standing to challenge it in the District Court.
GFB News Alert page 4 of 10 GEORGIA MILK PRODUCTION UP, BEEF CATTLE PRODUCTION STEADY Georgia Milk producers increased production in the fourth quarter of 2014 and the state’s cattle inventory remained steady according to reports from the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS). The NASS quarterly milk production report, released Jan. 30, showed Georgia milk production at 397 million pounds from October – December 2014, up 29 million pounds, an increase of 8 percent, from the same period in 2013. The state’s inventory of milk cows rose slightly from 80,000 in the fourth quarter of 2013 to 81,000 in the fourth quarter of 2014. The NASS Cattle Inventory Report, released Feb. 2, showed Georgia’s overall number of cattle and calves on Jan. 1, 2015, at 1.04 million, unchanged from the inventory on Jan. 1, 2014. The 2015 numbers include 83,000 beef replacement heifers, 25,000 milk replacement heifers and 34,000 heifers to be used for other purposes. Georgia’s inventory of steers weighing 500 pounds or more increased from 36,000 in January 2014 to 45,000 in January 2015, a 25 percent increase. The state’s number of 500-pound bulls remained at 28,000, while the number of calves weighing less than 500 pounds declined from 260,000 in January 2014 to 255,000 in January 2015. USDA TO GAUGE FARMLAND OWNERSHIP AND FARM ECONOMICS The USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) has begun surveying farmland owners to measure financial impacts and challenges of land ownership. Landowners were sent forms for the survey, called Tenure, Ownership, and Transition of Agricultural Land (TOTAL), at the end of December, according to a NASS press release. TOTAL is a part of the Census of Agriculture program, which means response to this survey is mandatory. The TOTAL survey program will collect data from both farm operators and landlords who are not farm operators to create a complete picture of farm costs, land ownership, demographics about farm operators and landlords, and improvements made to farmland and buildings, among other characteristics. More than 80,000 farmland owners and producers across the United States will receive TOTAL forms, including 1,400 in Georgia. In February and March, NASS interviewers will begin reaching out to producers and landowners who have not yet responded to answer any questions they may have and help them fill out their questionnaires. Information provided by respondents is confidential by law. The agency safeguards the confidentiality of all responses, ensuring no individual respondent or operation can be identified. NASS will publish results of the TOTAL survey in its Quick Stats database in August 2015. Quick Stats is available online at quickstats.nass.usda.gov. NASS will also publish the economic data gathered in the annual Farm Production Expenditures report on Aug. 4, 2015. All NASS reports are available online at www.nass.usda.gov.
GFB News Alert page 5 of 10 GEORGIA GROWERS TOUR COTTON INC. HEADQUARTERS A group of 15 Georgia farmers attended the annual tour of the Cotton Incorporated headquarters in Cary, N.C., Feb. 15-16. Cotton Incorporated is responsible for “The Fabric of Our Lives” advertising campaign and its research has resulted in many developments that have benefited growers, including the cotton module builder. During the tour, the Georgia producers met the Cotton Incorporated staff and learned of the hundreds of ongoing projects the organization oversees to increase cotton demand and profitability, including on-farm production, fiber processing, dyeing and finishing, product development and testing, as well as market analysis and advertising. Cotton Incorporated President & CEO Berrye Worsham, Senior Vice President of Global Supply Chain Marketing Mark Messura, Southeast Regional Communications Manager Monty Bain, were among the staff who spoke to the cotton growers. The Cotton Research & Promotion Act of 1966, which Congress passed at the request of cotton growers, established the assessment check-off and set up money and plans for cotton to regain its place in the market. The law established the Cotton Board to administer and oversee the Cotton Research & Promotion Program. The law also directed the Cotton Board to contract with a separate organization (Cotton Incorporated, which was created in 1970) to conduct the actual research and promotion activities for U.S. producers and importers of cotton. Based in Memphis, Tenn., the Cotton Board’s membership consists of U.S. producers of upland cotton and importers of cotton products, including brands and retailers, whose task is to oversee the Cotton Research & Promotion Program. The Cotton Board helps set policy for the program, reviews and recommends Cotton Incorporated’s annual plan and budget, and reviews program activities. The Cotton Board collects the assessment that funds the program from the buyers of U.S. upland cotton and from importers of cotton products. The assessment is $1 plus half a percent of a bale’s value. Cotton Incorporated is funded by check-off dollars assessed on each bale of cotton sold in the U.S. FSA APPROVES RULE THAT EXPANDS “BOBWHITE BUFFERS” A policy long sought by the National Bobwhite Conservation Initiative (NBCI) and recently approved by the Farm Service Agency (FSA) makes more than 3.6 million additional acres in 24 states eligible for the federal Conservation Reserve Program’s (CRP) Habitat Buffers for Upland Birds practice (CP-33), commonly known as “Bobwhite Buffers,” according to an NBCI press release. CP-33 allows agricultural landowners to contract with the FSA to use marginal borders of working cropland for grassland wildlife habitat in exchange for annual rental payments. Specifically, the policy change now allows inclusion of the unirrigated corners of crop fields irrigated with center pivot irrigation systems without those corners being connected by field borders also enrolled in the program. Previously those corners had to be connected by 30-foot field border strips. The FSA, which administers the program, said “studies suggest that the shapes of these patches and their proximity to each other create an attractive environment for the birds, even without the connecting strips.” CRP programs are available for continuous enrollment. To sign up for the bobwhite buffers or other CRP programs, visit your local FSA office.
GFB News Alert page 6 of 10 FAA PROPOSES NEW RULES FOR SMALL UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS On Feb. 15 the Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) proposed a framework of regulations that would allow routine use of certain small unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) in today’s aviation system, while maintaining flexibility to accommodate future technological innovations according to an FAA press release. The FAA proposal offers safety rules for small UAS (under 55 pounds) conducting nonrecreational operations. The rule would limit flights to daylight and visual-line-of-sight operations. It also addresses height restrictions, operator certification, optional use of a visual observer, aircraft registration and marking, and operational limits. The public will be able to comment on the proposed regulation for 60 days from the date of publication in the Federal Register, which can be found at www.regulations.gov. The proposed rule would require an operator to maintain visual line of sight of a small UAS. The FAA is asking for comments on whether the rules should permit operations beyond line of sight, and if so, what the appropriate limits should be. The current unmanned aircraft rules remain in place until the FAA implements a final new rule. The FAA encourages new operators to visit: http://www.knowbeforeyoufly.org. The FAA’s Small UAS Notice of Proposed Rulemaking is available online at http://www.faa.gov/regulations_policies/rulemaking/recently_published/. DEAL APPOINTS 31 TO REGIONAL WATER PLANNING COUNCILS On Jan. 30 Gov. Nathan Deal appointed 31 members of the state’s Regional Water Planning Councils. The RWPCs operate as part of the Georgia Comprehensive Water Management Plan adopted by the state legislature in 2008. “Farmers know that water is a required resource for them to continue to produce crops that feed and clothe all of us, and we appreciate Gov. Deal including agricultural representatives in his appointments to the Regional Water Planning Councils,” said Georgia Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall. Deal’s appointees are: Middle Ocmulgee Regional Water Planning Council - Elmo Richardson (reappointment) Bibb County; John Bembry (reappointment), Pulaski County; Jerry Davis (reappointment), Pulaski; Marcie Seleb, Butts County; Sam Hart, Bibb County; Thomas Wicker, Bibb County; Mike Bilderback, Monroe County; Peter Banks, Lamar County; Tom McMichael, Houston County; Keith Ellis, Newton County. Savannah- Upper Ogeechee Regional Water Planning Council - Jerry Boling (reappointment, nominated by Georgia Farm Bureau), Banks County: Patrick Goran (reappointment), Hart County; Thomas Jordan (reappointment), Jefferson County; Ron Cross (reappointment), Columbia County; Charlie Newton (reappointment, nominated by Georgia Farm Bureau), McDuffie County; John Bradshaw, Rabun County; King Rocker, Jenkins County; Richard Brown, Lincoln County; Larry Walker, Rabun County; Wade Johnson, Lincoln County. Upper Flint Regional Water Planning Council - Harold Fallin (reappointment, nominated by Georgia Farm Bureau), Upson County; Charles Leger (reappointment), Crisp County; Lamar Perlis (reappointment), Crisp County; Hays Arnold (reappointment), Upson County; Beth English (reappointment), Pulaski County; Terrell Hudson (reappointment, nominated by Georgia Farm Bureau), Dooly County; Beth Neely, Meriwether County; Rod Wilson, Pike County; Jem Morris, Sumter County; Bryan Upson, Spalding County; Willie James, Macon County.
GFB News Alert page 7 of 10 GEORGIA BLUEBERRY COMMISSION REFERENDUM UNDER WAY Georgia blueberry growers who annually produce one ton or more of blueberries that are commercially packed and marketed can vote in a mail ballot referendum until Feb. 20 to determine if they will continue the Georgia Blueberry Commission (GBC) Marketing Order. This order authorizes the assessment growers who annually produce a ton or more of blueberries pay to fund the research, consumer promotion and education activities of the Georgia Blueberry Commission. The assessment rate has been set at $5 per ton since the marketing order began in 2009, according to information distributed by the Georgia Department of Agriculture (GDA) announcing the referendum. If you are an eligible blueberry producer and did not receive a ballot, please contact GDA Commodity Commissions Manager Andy Harrison for more information about the referendum at 404-586-1405 or andy.harrison@agr.georgia.gov. 38th ANNUAL FARM, HOME AND MINISTERS CONFERENCE March 6-7 Fort Valley State University Pettigrew Center Fort Valley This annual event sponsored by the FVSU Cooperative Extension Program, starts at 9 a.m. and runs through 3 p.m. Topics developing small business plans, mental health, organic production, record keeping and more. The event is open to the public and lunch will be provided. Registration deadline is Feb. 19. To register online, visit http://bit.ly/XTX5qq. For more information, contact E. Jean Willis at 478-825-6269 or willise@fvsu.edu. VETERANS AND SMALL FARMERS WORKSHOPS Feb. 19 Fort Valley State University Pettigrew Center Fort Valley March 12 Gwinnett Technical College Busbee Center Lawrenceville These one-day workshops are designed to provide veterans and small farmers with knowledge of funds and programs available to them. Each workshop begins with registration at 8:30 a.m. and runs through 4:30 p.m. Topics include the 2014 farm bill, micro-irrigation, Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), veteran ranking process, small vs. large farms, organic certification, seasonal high tunnels, and more! Early registration and payment of the $20 fee can be completed online at http://conta.cc/1vjYPvM or call 678-376-9518 with any other questions. Please select specific workshop location under session section of link. SMALL FARM CONFERENCE Feb. 26-27 Unicoi State Park Helen The Broad River Soil and Water Conservation District, in partnership with the Upper Chattahoochee River Soil and Water Conservation District and USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service, is hosting this conference to educate farmers with small-scale operations on ways to improve their operations and make them run more efficiently and profitably. The conference will feature general sessions that will cover major agricultural topics, as well as breakout sessions that will cover unique topics of interest to small farming operations. Registration for the conference is $225 per person. However, through sponsorship from the Broad River Soil and Water Conservation District, the first 120 people to reserve a spot will receive a fully-paid scholarship for the event. Registration must be received by Feb. 20. For more information, and to register for the event, contact the Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission Region II office in Athens at 706-552-4479.
GFB News Alert page 8 of 10 SOUTHEAST GEORGIA WATERMELON UPDATE Feb. 20 Vidalia Onion Research Center Noon – 2 p.m. Lyons This area watermelon production meeting will give growers the latest updates on watermelon production. Growers will receive information on weed control, disease control, fertility, and variety selection. Sign-up is required. Please call the Tattnall County Extension Office at 912557-6724 to sign up. Lunch will be provided. EXPORT SEMINAR FOR FOOD & AG COMPANIES Feb. 24 World Trade Center(131 Hutchinson Island Rd.) 12:30 p.m. - 5p.m. Savannah This free seminar will cover the basics of exporting U.S. food and ag products. Learn how USDA programs can cut your international marketing budget in half, how to connect with foreign distributors, how to finance and protect your international transactions and about export readiness, foreign market research and assistance and shipping across international borders. Advance registration is required. To register visit www.susta.org/services/outreach_events_SavannahGA15.html For more information contact Kristin Core at Kristin@susta.org or call 504-569-5986 or contact Shehzin Jafar at sjafar@georgia.org or call 404-962-4036. Event is organized by the Southern U.S. Trade Association, Georgia Dept. of Economic Development and World Trade Center Savannah. UGA ACCEPTING CAES ALUMNI AWARD NOMINATIONS The UGA College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences Alumni Association invites you to make nominations for its Young Alumni Achievement Award, Alumni Award of Excellence and the Georgia Agricultural Hall of Fame. The Young Alumni Achievement Award is for alumni who are 35 years old or younger and who have achieved excellence in their chosen field and/or in their community. The CAES Alumni Award of Excellence recognizes extraordinary CAES alumni 36 years or older. The purpose of the Hall of Fame is to recognize individuals making unusual and extraordinary contributions to agriculture and agribusiness industries in Georgia. The Young Alumni Achievement and Alumni Excellence awards must be received by Feb. 28. Hall of Fame nominations must be postmarked by March 15. For more information or to make nominations for these awards, visit http://www.caes.uga.edu/alumni/CAA/scholarships.html. UGA CAES ALUMNI FRESHMAN AND TRANSFER SCHOLARSHIPS March 1 deadline to apply The CAES Alumni Association awards five scholarships for incoming freshmen to deserving students who have been accepted by The University of Georgia for study in the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. Selection is based on the student's scholastic achievement, leadership ability, and extracurricular involvement as they pertain to agricultural or environmental related areas. To access the application form for the Freshman Scholarships visit http://tinyurl.com/caesfrschol. The CAES Alumni Association also awards two non-renewable scholarships to the most outstanding transfer students from two- and four-year colleges who will be enrolling full-time at CAES. Selection is based on the student’s ability to make significant contributions to the academic and co-curricular campus environment. http://tinyurl.com/caestranschol.
GFB News Alert page 9 of 10 PB&J DAY AT THE CAPITOL March 3 Georgia State Capitol, South Wing 9 a.m – noon Atlanta This event, hosted by the Georgia Peanut Commission and the National Peanut Buying Points Association, kicks off National Peanut Month and is free to all visitors. The Georgia Peanut Commission is accepting registration for exhibitors and sponsors. For more information, contact Joy Purvis at 229-386-3471 or joypurvis@gapeanuts.com. UGA PECAN SCHOOL March 4 UGA Tifton Campus Conference Center 8 a.m. – noon Tifton This activity was formerly known as Pecan “Scout” School and is held every other year. The Pecan School will cover the basics of pecan production. Topics include pecan cultivars, fertilization, identification of nutritional deficiencies, management of insects and disease. A question and answer period will follow the formal presentations. Growers can drop their questions in a bowl during the break and the speakers will answer during the question and answer period. Registration is free and will be carried out on site. ANIMAL WASTE OPERATOR & PLANNER CERTIFICATION TRAINING March 19-20 UGA Livestock Arena 2600 S. Milledge Ave. Athens Certification for farm owners/employees to manage animal waste systems and for individuals who write nutrient management plans require completion of this course and passing an exam administered by the Georgia Department of Agriculture (GDA). This is the only operator/planner certification course in 2015. More information on Animal Waste Programs is available at: http://www.agp2.org. The March 19 class begins at 10 a.m. with lunch and break refreshments are provided. Session ends by 6 p.m. March 20 class begins at 8 a.m., morning and noon breaks, lunch and refreshments provided. Session ends by 3 p.m. with exam. Participants are asked to pre-register by March 13. Visit http://tinyurl.com/wastetraining for registration form to complete and registration instructions. Training fee for attendees who are pork or dairy producers or with the GDA will be paid by Georgia Pork Producers, Georgia Milk Producers or GDA. For all other attendees, registration is $150 per person for operators and $200 per person for planners. For more information contact Melony Wilson at: 706-310-3466. ALFALFA IN THE SOUTH WORKSHOP March 17 UGA Livestock Instructional Area 9 a.m. Athens This workshop will focus on how to successfully use alfalfa, including how to grow your own nitrogen and feed supplement by interseeding alfalfa into bermudagrass. Subjects covered include: site selection, establishment protocol, soil fertility, harvest management, and how to use this high quality and cost-effective crop. There will be a grower panel to hear how other producers are using alfalfa in bermudagrass across Georgia and the Southeast. Also included are visits to fields where alfalfa was interseeded into bermudagrass. Cost of the one-day workshop is $25 and includes lunch and refreshments, an “Alfalfa in the South” notebook, and other publications on alfalfa production and use in the South. To register, call Cathy Felton at 706310-3464 or send an email to feltonc@uga.edu.
GFB News Alert page 10 of 10 AG SAFE FARM SMART AWARENESS EVENT March 28 Ag-Pro 10 a.m. Carnesville This event to promote ag safety is sponsored by Franklin County Farm Bureau, AgGeorgia Farm Credit and Ag-Pro. The event will feature kid-friendly activities, tractor and implement demonstrations and educational speakers. Lunch will be provided. RSVP by March 14 to Franklin County Farm Bureau Office Manager Rebecca Whitfield at 706-384-2222 or rmwhitfield atgfb.org. MONSANTO OFFERS GRANTS TO PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN 34 GA COUNTIES April 1 deadline to apply Farmers in 34 Georgia counties may nominate a public school district for grants of up to $25,000 from Monsanto’s America’s Farmers Grow Rural Education Fund. Eligible counties are Appling, Baker, Berrien, Bleckley, Brooks, Bulloch, Burke, Calhoun, Coffee, Colquitt, Cook, Crisp, Decatur, Dooly, Early, Grady, Irwin, Jeff Davis, Jefferson, Lee, Macon, Miller, Mitchell, Randolph, Screven, Seminole, Sumter, Tattnall, Terrell, Thomas, Tift, Turner, Wilcox and Worth. Visit www.growruraleducation.com and click the “Farmers Nominate Now” button or call 1-877-267-3332 to submit a nomination. Complete rules and eligibility requirements are posted on the aforementioned website. NEWTON COUNTY AG DAY ON THE SQUARE April 18 On the Square 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. Covington This event, sponsored by the Newton County Farm Bureau Young Farmers, features a modern and antique tractor show and lots of family fun. For more information, contact NCFB Office Manager Crystal Powell at 770-786-7201.