FARM EMPLOYERS GEARING FOR AFFORDABLE CARE ACT

With key employers’ provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) set to take effect beginning in 2014, many employers, including those in farming, are seeking information on what steps will be required for compliance.

Under the ACA, employers who have 50 or morefull-time employees (those who work an average of 30 hours or more per week) will be required to provide affordable minimum essential health insurance coverage to those full-time employees.

Full-time equivalents are determined by taking the total number of hours worked in a month by each non-full time employee and dividing that number by 120 (30 hours times four weeks).

Seasonal workers who are employed for 120 days or less during the calendar year are not currently included in the employee calculation.

The ACA defines affordable coverage as coverage for which the employee’s portion of the premium for employee-only coverage does not exceed 9.5 percent of the employee’s W-2 earnings.

Employers will be allowed to delay covering employees for 60 days without penalty, or delay coverage for 60 to 90 days and pay a $600 penalty.

Beginning in 2014, employers with more than 200 employees must automatically enroll employees into health insurance plans offered by the employer. Employees may opt out.

A penalty is to be imposed when an employee of an employer with 50 or more full time employees/equivalents receives a premium tax credit. A premium tax credit is a tax credit for eligible individuals and families with incomes between 100-400 percent of the federal poverty level, used to purchase insurance through the Exchanges.

Since 2010, tax credits have been available to small employers that purchase health insurance for employees if they have no more than 25 employees and pay average annual wages of less than $50,000. The credit is available to small employers that pay at least half the cost of single coverage for their employees.

The maximum credit of 35 percent of premiums paid is available to employers who have 10 or fewer full-time equivalent employees and pay an average annual wage of $25,000 or less. This tax credit increases to 50 percent for 2014 and 2015.

For more information about the health care law, visit http://healthreform.kff.org/ or http://www.healthcare.gov/index.html. For advice on strategies to comply with ACA, consult with an accountant or attorney.

September 5, 2012 www.gfb.org Vol. 30 No. 36

Leadership Alert page 2 of 7 GFB TAKING HAY CONTEST ENTRIES, DIRECTORY LISTINGS

Georgia Farm Bureau members who grow Bermuda grass hay are encouraged to enter the GFB 2012 Quality Hay Contest. Hay entered in the contest will be tested at the University of Georgia testing lab using the Relative Forage Quality (RFQ) test, which predicts fiber digestibility and likely animal intake of hay.

Contest entry forms are available at county Farm Bureau offices or online at http://www.gfb.org/commodities/hay_contest.html. Producers may enter more than one sample. Entry fees are $15 per entry to cover the cost of the lab tests. Oct. 31 is the deadline to enter. Contest participants will receive a detailed copy of their hay analysis and a free listing in the GFB Hay & Litter Directory if they choose. Winners will be announced at the GFB Hay Committee meeting on Dec. 3 during the annual GFB Convention on Jekyll Island. Prizes will be awarded for the top five places.

GFB members with hay or poultry litter for sale are invited to list their farm in the 2013 GFB Quality Hay & Litter Directory.

The directory will be printed in late November. Producers should complete a form and send to the GFB office in Macon along with a check for $10 for each listing. Checks should be made out to Georgia Farm Bureau.

Because this directory is used for the entire year, producers should include normal and projected production of round and square bales they anticipate selling. Poultry litter can be listed on the same form.

Directories are distributed to all county Farm Bureau offices, county Extension offices, the Georgia Cattlemen's Association, cattle producers, dairy producers, horse owners, directory participants, and at the Sunbelt Expo and the annual GFB convention. The directory is also listed on the GFB website.

Forms for both the GFB Quality Hay Contest and the Quality Hay/Poultry Litter Directory are available at your local Farm Bureau office or on our website http://www.gfb.org. Contact Joe McManus at 1-800-342-1196 for more information on the hay contest or the hay/poultry litter directory. POULTRY LAB NETWORK HEADQUARTERS TO RELOCATE

The Georgia Poultry Laboratory Network Headquarters will move from its current location in Oakwood, just south of Gainesville, to a new industrial park off Georgia Highway 365 in northern Hall County.

The move was confirmed after the Hall County Commissioners agreed to provide water, sewer and road paving for the industrial park, according to published reports. Completion of the 38,000-square-foot building is expected to be in 2015.

“Due to its long and vibrant history, Hall County is known as the ‘Poultry Capitol of the World’ and we are thrilled about the opportunity to be involved in this project to expand and modernize the Georgia Poultry Laboratory Network,” Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Gary Black said. “When agriculture is able to continue growing in Georgia, everybody wins. We are the nation’s No. 1 state for poultry production and poultry exports, and this new lab will continue to facilitate the industry’s growth. We are grateful to the Georgia General Assembly for funding the new 38,000 square-foot laboratory, which will allow the Poultry Laboratory Network to continue providing valuable poultry diagnostic and monitoring services for the poultry industry.”

Leadership Alert page 3 of 7 MONSANTO ACCEPTING ENTRIES FOR CHARITY PROGRAM

Farmers in 33 Georgia counties have until Nov. 30 to register to win $2,500 for a charity of their choice in the 3rd Annual America’s Farmers Grow Communities program sponsored by Monsanto. Suggested charities include local 4-H or FFA programs, fire departments, hospitals, libraries or schools. No purchase is necessary to win.

Because of the negative impact the drought is having on the U.S. corn and soybean crops, winning farmers from counties that received drought disaster designations from the USDA will have a chance to direct an additional $2,500 donation to a local non-profit to address community needs due to the drought. All of Georgia’s eligible counties have received USDA drought disaster designations.

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, Screven, Seminole, Sumter, Tattnall, Terrell, Thomas, Tift, Turner, Wilcox and Worth. Each of these counties planted at least 30,000 acres of corn, soybeans, cotton and/or vegetables in 2011.

The program is open to farmers, age 21 and older in eligible counties, actively farming a minimum of 250 acres of corn, soybeans and/or cotton or 40 acres of open field vegetables or at least 10 acres of tomatoes, peppers and/or cucumbers grown in greenhouses or under plastic.

One winner will be drawn from each county. Monsanto will announce winning farmers and their recipient charities in January 2013. Visit http://www.growcommunities.com or call 1-877-267-3332 to apply. Community non-profits that wish to encourage farmers to support their cause may do so at the aforementioned website. HARRELL, BELL REAPPOINTED TO NATIONAL PEANUT BOARD

Grady County Farm Bureau Director John Harrell has been reappointed to the National Peanut Board (NPB) by Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, and Decatur County Farm Bureau President Andy Bell was reappointed as an alternate.

The seven members and alternates appointed by Vilsack on Aug. 29 will serve three-year terms beginning Jan. 1, 2013. Harrell is currently serving as the NPB treasurer. He and Bell are members of the Georgia Farm Bureau Peanut Committee.

The NPB is a farmer-funded national research, promotion and education check-off program consisting of one board member and one alternate from each of the 10 major peanut-producing states.

The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) oversees the NPB in accordance with the Commodity Promotion, Research and Information Act of 1996 and the Peanut Promotion, Research and Information Order.

One at-large board member also represents all minor peanut-producing states. Board members are nominated by state producer organizations and appointed by the Secretary of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).

The other board member appointees were Bob White of Texas and Vic Jordan of Louisiana. Other alternates are Jeffrey Pitman of Florida, Peter Froese Jr. of Texas and Kyle Baltz of Arkansas. The board is chaired by Cindy Belch of North Carolina.

Leadership Alert page 4 of 7 GEORGIA CATTLEMEN’S ASSOCIATION REGION ROUNDUPS Sept. 6 Vidalia Onion Research Center 6 p.m. Lyons Sept. 11 Georgia Cattlemen’s Association headquarters 6 p.m. Macon These meetings will provide Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) updates, legislative updates, a presentation on the activities of the HSUS, information about the beef checkoff and much more. There is no cost to attend and a meal will be provided. RSVP by calling 478-474-6560. OLD SOUTH FARM CAMP September – November Old South Farm Woodland These three-day camps, which typically will run from Friday through Suday, include a variety of vintage farm activities, including milking cows, making butter and buttermilk, a session on honeybees and much more. Registration is $200 per person and discounts are available for multiple members of the same family. For more information or to register, contact Paul Bulloch at 706-975-9136 or visit http://www.oldsouthfarm.com. GEORGIA PECAN GROWERS FALL FIELD DAY Sept. 6 USDA-ARS Research Lab 8 a.m. Byron This free event includes an orchard tour and a complimentary lunch. An orchard tour will be held before noon and a barbecue lunch will be provided. For more information contact Janice Dees at 229-382-2187 or Janice@georgiapecan.org. USFRA SEEKING THE “FACES OF FARMING AND RANCHING” Farm Bureau members can apply to become one of the national U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance (USFRA) “Faces of Farming and Ranching” representatives. The Faces of Farming and Ranching will serve multiple roles with the USFRA, including giving national media interviews, participating in panel discussions and web chats, being featured in advertising and other activities. Each representative will have a tailored media plan to ensure optimal use of the 2013 winners. Entries will be accepted through Sept. 8. All travel costs will be provided for the winners, each of whom will also receive a $10,000 stipend, $5,000 to donate to an agriculture charity and spokesperson training. To find out more, please contact GFB Commodities Assistant Director Joe McManus at 478-474-0679, ext. 5250, or jcmcmanus@gfb.org. To access the entry forms visit http://www.fooddialogues.com/faces-of-farming-and-ranching. GEORGIA FARM BUREAU DISTRICT ANNUAL MEETINGS Sept. 11 3rd District The Center at Arbor Connection 7 p.m. Douglasville Sept. 13 10th District Jamestown Baptist Church 7 p.m. Waycross Sept. 18 2nd District N. Ga. Technical College 7 p.m. Avalon Sept. 20 5th District Thomaston Civic Center 7 p.m. Thomaston Sept. 25 1st District First Baptist Church 7 p.m. Calhoun Oct. 9 9th District Mitchell County Ag Center 7 p.m. Camilla Oct. 11 7th District First Baptist Church 7 p.m. Statesboro Oct. 30 8th District South Ga. Technical College 7 p.m. Americus Nov. 1 4th District Greene County High School 7 p.m. Greensboro Nov. 8 6th District Poplar Springs North Bapt. Church 7p.m. Dublin Contact your county Farm Bureau office for more information. Note: These meetings are for Farm Bureau members only and are not open to the general public.

Leadership Alert page 5 of 7 UGA COTTON AND PEANUT RESEARCH FIELD DAY Sept. 12 Coastal Plain Experiment Station 8:30 a.m. Tifton This event, sponsored by the Georgia Cotton Commission and the Georgia Peanut Commission, includes lunch. For more information call 229-386-3328. EMERGENCY ANIMAL SHELTER RIBBON-CUTTING Sept. 12 SAFE building, Fort Valley State University 10:30 a.m. Fort Valley Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Gary Black is scheduled to attend the event to recognize the opening of the State Animal Facility for Emergencies, a 7,800-square-foot facility capable of housing up to 80 cat and 105 dogs, as well as up to 30 horses in the event of an emergency. For more information, contact FVSU at 478-825-6345. GEORGIA GROWN FARMER SHOWCASE Sept. 15 Atlanta State Farmers Market 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Forest Park The third Georgia Grown Farmer Showcas will feature dozens of vendors selling a wide variety of agricultural products. Georgia Grown T-shirts (in an assortment of fruit and vegetable colors) will also be available for sale. For information contact Paul Thompson at 404-675-1782. The Atlanta State Farmers Market is at 16 Forest Parkway, Forest Park. 16th ANNUAL PLAINS PEANUT FESTIVAL Sept. 15 Plains The annual Plains Peanut Festival is centered around one of the Sumter County community's claims to fame, its peanut production, and former President of the U.S., Jimmy Carter. One-mile fun run and a 5-K road race starts at 7 AM. All-day event with educational exhibits & vendors. For info, call Better Home Town Program at 229-824-5373 or http://www.plainsgeorgia.com/peanut_festival.html. 2012 GEORGIA GRAZING SCHOOL Sept. 18-19 UGA Tifton Campus Conference Center Tifton This two-day workshop will focus on soil fertility, forage crop establishment, plant growth, animal nutrient requirements and management-intensive grazing. Registration is now open, and interested persons are encouraged to register as soon as possible. For more information, visit http://tinyurl.com/c6dhtb9. [http://www.caes.uga.edu/commodities/fieldcrops/forages/events/GS12/GS12.html.] 2012 AGROFORESTRY AND WILDLIFE FIELD DAY Sept. 20 University of Georgia Griffin Campus 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Griffin Registration is now being accepted for this unique educational event, sponsored by UGA, Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, Fort Valley State University, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, and the NRCS. The field day will provide information on ways land value can be enhanced. More than 25 topics will be showcased, including wildlife opening management; pond management; management for wild turkeys, doves and quail; selling and marketing timber; prescribed burning, cost-sharing assistance programs, GPS/GIS use in managing land and invasive insects, disease and plants. Registration is $25 before Sept. 3 and $35 after. Fee includes lunch, and those who register in advance will receive an Agroforestry & Wildlife Field Day baseball cap. For more information, visit http://www.caes.uga.edu/events/awfd/index.html.

Leadership Alert page 6 of 7 THE FARMER & THE CHEF Sept. 22 The Ritz-Carlton Buckhead The Georgia Chapter of the March of Dimes (MOD) is hosting this fundraising event. Guests will enjoy a four-course dinner prepared by Atlanta-area chefs using ingredients from local farmers. MOD is partnering with the Georgia Department of Agriculture and the Georgia Restaurant Association to engage local farmers and chefs to participate in the event. The event will also include live and silent auctions with packages ranging from fine dining, vacation getaways, sports packages and spa packages. Event starts at 6 p.m. with a reception followed by dinner at 7 p.m. Tables start at $5,000 with 10 seats per table. For more information please call Joanna Johnson at 404-350-9800 or email jjohnson@marchofdimes.com. TRI-STATE PEANUT DISEASE TOUR Sept. 25-27 Various Research Sites Ga. Ala., Fla. Stops include a visit at the University of Florida Citra Research Center, the Lang-Rigdon Farms and Black Shank Farm at UGA’s Tifton Campus and the Wiregrass Experiment Station in Headland, Ala. For more information or to RSVP, contact Dr. Albert Culbreath at 229-386-3370 or spotwilt@uga.edu. EPA ACCEPTING COMMENTS ON RFS WAIVER REQUESTS In response to requests to waive Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) volume requirements from governors of several states, including Georgia’s Nathan Deal, the EPA is seeking public comments. The EPA has the authority to waive the RFS standard if its implementation would cause severe economic or environmental harm. Those requesting a waiver contend that short supplies of grain used in ethanol production have resulted in severe price increases for livestock feed. Interested parties have until Sept. 26 to submit written comments. To submit a comment, visit http://tinyurl.com/9asme8u. UPCOMING DEADLINES FOR FSA PROGRAMS Below are upcoming enrollment deadlines for programs administered by the Farm Service Agency: Sept. 30 Milk Income Loss Contract (MILC) Dates vary Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP), check with FSA service center for dates) and Crop Insurance (Contact a crop insurance agent or the regional Risk Management Agency (RMA) office.) For more information about FSA programs visit http://www.fsa.usda.gov. NRCS ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR CONSERVATION GRANTS The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is accepting applications until Oct. 15 for grants intended to help farmers fund projects that will make their farms more drought tolerant. The NRCS is offering up to $5 million in Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) to evaluate and demonstrate farming practices that help producers adapt to drought. NRCS is especially interested in projects that demonstrate: cropping or grazing systems that increase drought resiliency through improved soil health; increases available soil water holding capacity by enhancing organic matter with reduced tillage, cover crops and organic amendments; uses drought resistant plants in coordination with the NRCS Plant Material Centers; or improves water efficiency. To apply, visit http://www.grants.gov or contact the NRCS National CIG office at 703-235-8065.

Leadership Alert page 7 of 7 HAWKINSVILLE HARVEST FEST/PIGS & PRODUCE BARBECUE CONTEST Oct. 26 & 27 Courthouse Square Hawkinsville Better Hometown of Hawkinsville will host the annual Harvest Fest featuring the Pigs and Produce barbecue competition, an official contest sanctioned by the Georgia Barbecue Association. Along with some great professional barbecue teams and some very interesting ancillary categories, Hawkinsville will host two very unique events at this festival: The first ever Georgia State Boiled Peanut Championship sponsored by Hardy Farms Peanuts and the Old vs. New Faceoff. This head-to-head contest will be held on the courthouse square in downtown Hawkinsville between barbecue legend Myron Mixon of Jack’s Old South and his son, Michael Mixon of Jack’s New South. For more information, please visit http://www.hawkinsvilleharvestfest.com. AG, ENGINEERING AND NATURAL RESOURCES CAREER FAIR AT UGA Nov. 7 UGA Tate Student Center Noon – 4 p.m. Athens The University of Georgia is looking for companies needing a few good hires or summer interns. Visit http://georgiafaces.caes.uga.edu/?public=viewStory&pk_id=4516 for more information. Companies that want to register for the fair should visit career.uga.edu/hireuga or email LeAnn Golob at leann@uga.edu.