georgia neighbors - fall 2008

GeorgiaA P U B L I C A T I O N O F T H E G E O R G I A F A R M B U R E A U

FARM

BUREA

U’S Fall 2008

Vol. 13, No. 3

AMENDMENT #1Page 4

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1Georgia Neighbors • Fall 2008

Like to SubScribe?All Georgia Farm Bureau members will receive

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departmentsWe, the Farmers .................... 2

Legislative Update ...................4

Insurance Update ...................8

Member Services Update .....10

Timber Update ......................14

Kid’s Korner ...........................16

Mortgage Update ..................18

GFB Insurance Meetings .......23

about the cover(Photo by Joan Mitchell, shot in Polk County, Georgia)keep Georgia Green! Vote Yes for Amendment 1. Amendment 1 will offer incentives to Georgia landowners to keep their land in forests rather than selling it for development. Everyone benefits from beautiful greenspace such as the scene on our cover. For more infor-mation turn to page 4 or visit www.keepgeorgiagreen.org.

The Williamson sisters, who grew up in Hogansville, wrote a cookbook to preserve their family heritage but

ended up saving one sister’s life. Just goes to prove that blood is thicker than water, soup or a special recipe for punch.

6Family cookbook serves up helpings of love

ContentsFall 2008 • Vol. 13, No. 3

Liberty County Farm Bureau member Danny Norman’s love for the past inspired him to estab-

lish an exten-sive collection of antique auto-mobiles and farm equipment and recreate a rural Southern village like the ones found at Georgia cross-roads from 1900 to the 1930s.

12Preserving the past

It’s apple season and we know where you can find the freshest Georgia apples straight from the orchard! We also have

lists of farms and markets where you can find pump-kins, decorative corn and cotton stalks along with small hay bales. If you’re looking to have a little fun down on the farm, we have 11 farms on our Certified Farm Market list that provide hay rides, petting zoos, corn mazes and special festivals.

22GFB Certified Farm Markets can help you buy food locally

There are a lot of

misconceptions floating around about agricul-ture. Let’s take a look at some of the more com-mon ones.

24 C o n t e s t a n t s competing in the Georgia Egg

Commission’s 25th Annual Recipe Contest put on the ritz as they prepared dishes featuring eggs and crackers. We’ve got the winning recipes for you to try. Pictured from left, Debra Brooks, Mary Louise Lever and Karen Slaughter won 1st, 2nd and 3rd place in the 25th Annual Georgia Egg Commission Recipe Contest.

Food for thought

Egg Commission Recipe Contest turns 25

26

2 Georgia Neighbors • Fall 2008

Georgia Farm Bureau has a vision - a vision of prosperity for our fam-ily farms and for all the wonderful Farm Bureau members we serve across this great state. Georgia Farm Bureau serves more than 400,000 families every day. Through our membership benefits such as insurance, the Choice Hotels discount, the Dodge rebate and many others, we serve an average of 2.5 family members per household. That’s about one million Georgians who are enjoying some aspect of Farm Bureau membership every day, and we take this responsibility seriously. Farm Bureau’s goal is to ensure the viability of Georgia agriculture so that all of our members, whether they live in cities or small towns, can prosper and continue to enjoy the affordable, quality food and fiber our farms are produc-ing. Although food prices have risen in the past year, USDA statistics show the average American spends only 10 percent of his disposable income on food each year. In comparison, Japanese consumers spend 14% of their income on food, French consumers spend 15%, Chinese consumers spend 26% and Indonesian consumers spend 55% of their income on food. These challenging economic times are showing us how interdependent all sectors of the economy are. When one sector of our economy slows, it can send shockwaves through another. A report released in August by the University of Georgia College of Agri-cultural and Environmental Sciences shows that agriculture is a driving force in Georgia’s economy. This report says that Georgia agri-culture accounts for 14 percent of our state’s employment – 708,174 jobs – and 13 percent of Georgia’s econom-ic output – some $92 billion in sales. Georgia’s food and drink manufactur-

ers employ 72,582 people and pull in $30.5 billion annually, more than any other manufacturing sector, according to the report. Agriculture does more for Georgia’s rural development than any other industry. A thriving agriculture sector fosters an economy that is healthy and strong - an economy that provides more jobs and higher wages so our members can provide for their families’ needs. In addition to growing the food and fiber that drives Georgia’s economy, our farmers also provide greenspace by maintaining their farms instead of selling out to developers. The pasture and forestland on these farms provide wildlife habitat, conserve soil and con-vert carbon dioxide into oxygen. With rising production costs and increased land values, it’s often a sacri-fice for farm owners to keep their land in greenspace. That’s why the Georgia General Assembly and Gov. Sonny Perdue this year passed the Georgia Forestland Protection Act, which would allow forestland to be taxed at its cur-rent use value instead of its fair market value. This legislation will go before all Georgia voters this fall as Amendment 1 on the general election ballot. Voting yes for Amendment 1 will preserve the greenspace all Georgians and visitors to our beautiful state enjoy. You’ll find more information about Amendment 1 and why Farm Bureau strongly supports it on page 4. I believe the true key to prosperity is to do what is right in the eyes of the Lord and to do it with all your heart. Second Chronicles 31:21 says: And in every work that he began in the service of the house of God, in the law and in the com-mandment, to seek his God, he did it with all his heart. So he prospered. That, my friends, is the blessing this organization wants for all of our mem-bers. Farm Bureau is a family organi-zation and our board of directors and employees are proud to serve you, our family members. We appreciate your support and loyalty to this organization. Thank you and may God bless you!

Zippy Duvall, presiDent Issued three times a year by the Georgia Farm Bureau Federation, located at 1620 Bass Road,

Macon, GA 31210.

SubScriPtioN rAteSFarm Bureau Members:

Included in dues — $1 per year

oFFicerSVINCENT “Zippy” DUVALL, PresidentDONALD CHILDS, 1st Vice PresidentBRENT GALLOWAY, Middle Georgia

Vice PresidentGERALD LONG, South Georgia

Vice PresidentWAYNE DANIEL, Treasurer/

Corporate SecretaryDUKE GROOVER, General Counsel

DirectorSFirSt DiStrict: J. Louis Hunt, LaFayette; Henry J. West, Rydal SecoND DiStrict: Randy Ruff, Elberton; Bobby Gunter Dahlonega tHirD DiStrict: George Chambers, Carrollton; Nora Goodman, Temple FourtH DiStrict: Marvin Ruark, Bishop; William Hutchins, Winder FiFtH DiStrict: Jim Ham, Smarr; Ralph Adamson, Jr., Barnesville SiXtH DiStrict: James Emory Tate, Denton; Jimmy Perry Jr., Cochran SeVeNtH DiStrict: Ben Boyd, Sylvania; Gennis Folsom, Glenville eiGHtH DiStrict: Phil Redding, Bluffton; Don Wood, Rochelle NiNtH DiStrict: Paul Shirah, Camilla; Lucius Adkins, Elmodel teNtH DiStrict: David Lee, Alma; Daniel Johnson, Alma YouNG FArMer cHAirMAN: Leighton Cooley, Roberta WoMeN’S coMMittee cHAir: Kim Brown, Montezuma

iNForMAtioN StAFFPaul Beliveau . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . DirectorJennifer Whittaker. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . EditorLillian Davis . . . . . . . Publications ManagerBrad Harrison . . Publication/Web SpecialistMichael Edmondson. . Radio-TV SpecialistMark Wildman . . . . . . . Radio-TV SpecialistDean Wood . . . . . . . . . Radio-TV SpecialistRick Treptow. . . Senior Radio-TV SpecialistDenny Moore . . . . . . . TV Anchor/ProducerVickie Amos . . . . . . . . . Office Coordinator

ADVertiSiNG PoLicY All advertising accepted subject to pub-lisher’s approval. Advertisers must assume liability for content of their advertising. Publisher maintains right to cancel advertising for non-payment or reader complaint about advertiser service or products. Publisher does not accept per-order, political or alcoholic beverage ads, nor does publisher prescreen or guarantee advertiser service or products. Publisher assumes no liability for products or services advertised in Farm Bureau’s Georgia Neighbors. For advertising rates and information, con-tact Linda Fuda at 513-307-7949 or [email protected]. Farm Bureau’s Georgia Neighbors was established in 1995. Copyright 2008 by the Georgia Farm Bureau Federation. Printed by Panaprint, Macon, GA.

www.gfb.org

A P U B L I C A T I O N O F T H E G E O R G I A F A R M B U R E A U

FARM

BUREA

U’S

A Vision of Prosperity


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Keep Georgia Green: Vote Yes for Amendment 1By Jon Huffmaster

Legislative Update

As party politics reach a fever pitch going into November, some voters may wonder if anybody can agree on anything. Well, there is one question on the Georgia ballot with which we can all agree - Amendment 1. Amendment 1 will offer incentives to Georgia landowners to keep their land in forests rather than selling it for development. Amendment 1 will allow Georgia forestland to be assessed as forestland for property tax purposes rather than its fair market value pro-vided the owners are willing to sign a legal covenant dedicating their land to tree production for 15 years. Under current law, property taxes on most Georgia forestland are based on the fair market value of the land. As land values have increased, property taxes have risen to the point where many landowners must decide whether it makes economic sense to keep their land in for-ests or sell it for development. In fast growing regions of the state, the pres-sure to sell forest properties is intense. A study conducted by the Uni-versity of Georgia Center for Forest Business shows that average forest-land property taxes increased from $18.57 per acre in 2003 to $29.46 per acre in 2006. That’s an increase of nearly 59 percent! If you calculate the tax bill for a typical forestland owner, the need for Amendment 1 is obvious, especially when you consider that forest owners get no return on their investment for about 20 years. For example, 500 acres of average Georgia forestland would generate an annual tax bill of $14,730. Over a 15-year period, the landowner will pay $220,950 in property taxes with no return on the investment! Compare that to selling the land to a developer for quick cash and it’s easy to see why landowners might be tempted to sell.

Clearly, Georgia’s property tax system is at odds with the public’s call for more undeveloped land and greenspace. Passage of Amendment 1 won’t eliminate property taxes on for-estland. Landowners will still pay property taxes every year, but their land will be assessed according to the value of that property as a forest instead of its potential use as a shop-ping mall or subdivision. Amendment 1 won’t significantly affect the budgets of local govern-

ments. If the change causes a county’s total tax revenue to be reduced by 3 percent or less, the state of Georgia will reimburse half of the lost rev-enue. The state will reimburse local governments for all losses above the initial 3 percent. Amendment 1 is good for Georgia’s economy. Georgia is the number one forestry state in the nation. The forest products industry has a $25 billion economic impact in our state, and 150,000 people are employed in forest-ry. However, that economic benefit is directly dependant on whether land-owners consider it fiscally prudent to plant trees on their land. Amendment 1 will make that decision less difficult. Georgia’s environment will benefit

from Amendment 1. Forests clean the water by helping to control soil ero-sion and sedimentation in our streams, and they help recharge underground aquifers. Trees also reduce greenhouse gases and increase atmospheric oxy-gen. Forests broaden Georgia’s bio-logical diversity by providing food and habitat for wildlife. Amendment 1 will help preserve all of these benefits. Amendment 1 helps everybody. Part of Georgia’s charm is the appeal of its forests. Forests also provide rec-reational opportunities like hunting, fishing, camping, and hiking. Forests make our lives richer. Amendment 1 enjoys broad sup-

port. Georgia’s General Assembly authorized the bill creating the amendment earlier this year by votes of 159-0 in the House and 46-1 in the Senate, and Gov. Perdue gladly signed the legislation. In addition to Georgia

Farm Bureau, other organizations endorsing Amendment 1 include the Georgia Conservancy, Georgia Conservation Voters, the Georgia Forestry Association, the Georgia Hunting & Fishing Federation, the Georgia Wildlife Federation, the Georgia Agribusiness Council, the Georgia Chamber of Commerce and other business, sportsmen and envi-ronmental groups in Georgia. A yes vote on Amendment 1 will help ensure Georgia continues to be one of the greenest states in the nation. A yes vote on Amendment 1 is good for the environment, good for wildlife, good for the economy and good for Georgians. A yes vote on Amendment 1 is truly a vote you can feel good about. For more information, visit the Keep Georgia Green web site at www.keepgeorgiagreen.org . Jon Huffmaster is director of the GFB Legislative Department.


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Keep Georgia Green: Vote Yes for Amendment 1


or the Williamson sisters, seven tight-knit sib-lings who grew up in Hogansville, Georgia, writing a cookbook was never about making a

lot of money or selling a high volume of books. It was about preserving their family history. In 2005, while the Williamson sisters were enjoying a cruise on their annual “sisters’ trip”, the second oldest sis-ter, Willie Todd, suggested they put together a cookbook of family recipes for the younger generations of the family. “We gave this book to our children at Christmas that year and it stopped our Christmas party. They loved it,” middle sister Shirley Williamson, of Coweta County, recalled. Coincidentally, Shirley’s maiden name, Williamson, is the same as her husband, Roger’s, last name. Shirley contributes recipes to her local paper each week. When one of the reporters learned about the family cook-book she urged them to publish the book and sell it. After much persuasion, the sisters finally agreed and had orders for 300 copies of Sisters Famiy Cookbook. As it turns out, the cookbook has served a much greater role than preserving family recipes. In September 2006, just as the cookbook was coming out, Shirley learned that she needed a kidney transplant. The Williamson sisters imme-diately agreed to use the proceeds from the book sales to help finance Shirley’s medical costs. “This wasn’t what we envisioned when we started it, but we’ve just been blessed by what’s happened,” said Shirley. Shirley received a kidney transplant in March, donated by her great niece, Lena Drake, but she still has to make trips to the hospital and must take anti-rejection medi-cine. Those visits combined with the cost of medicine have created a financially tough situation. “I don’t know how other people do it. There’s no way we could have done it if this cookbook hadn’t come along,” Shirley said. The original cookbook, which sells for $10 per copy, went from being a way to make a few extra dollars on the side to helping one of its family members in a time of need. The cookbook business has taken the Williamson sisters much further than they could have ever envisioned. Word about the book has gotten out around northwest Georgia. Now, more than 5,000 copies later, the seven sisters have made a name for themselves while also going to bat for a family member’s medical needs. Demand has been so great, in fact, that a second cook-book is planned for release this fall. The second book, Sisters Family Cookbook, Second Helping, will be sold for $12. Both cookbooks can be purchased for $20. Shirley said that the new book contains more recipes than the first one and stories about the family, something individuals who bought the first book requested.

“It’s been absolutely overwhelming,” Shirley said. “For seven little country girls to be able to do this, it’s special.” In addition to Willie and Shirley, the other Williamson sisters are Martha Hale, Becky Ott-Carden, Joyce Harlan, Ellen Hubbard and Bobbie Williams. Their mother, Annie M. Williamson, of Hogansville, is the family matriarch. The sisters have one brother, Amos. Local businesses have requested copies of the cook-book to sell, and members of the family have learned to keep copies of them book with them when they are out in public, since it is not uncommon for someone to ask to buy a copy. “It’s been a total blessing. No matter where we go, we’ll usually sell one,” Shirley said. “We’ve had people coming up to us wanting to sell them for us.” For more information about the cookbook, call (678) 266-0483.

The Williamson sisters, who grew up in Hogansville, wrote a cookbook to preserve their family heritage but ended up saving one sister’s life. Front row, (l-r) Ellen Hubbard, Martha Hale. Middle row: Annie Williamson, Joyce Harlin, Shirley Williamson. Top row: Bobbie Williams, Willie Todd, Becky Ott-Carden.

By Brad Harrison

FCookbook serves up helpings of love


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By pat BraDleyInsurance Update

If you’re like most people, auto-mobile insurance terms can some-times be confusing. The meanings of some terms, such as collision, towing, labor and liability, are pret-ty self-explanatory. However, some terms may not mean what you think they do. For example, if you elect to pur-chase the optional coverage of unin-sured motorist (UM) from your auto insurance provider, you know you are covered when the wrongful party in an accident doesn’t have any insur-ance. But did you know that you can also turn to your UM coverage if the wrongful party has insurance, but it is not enough to pay for your damages? Under Georgia’s current insur-ance laws, the amount of coverage the wrongful party has reduces the

amount of coverage you have avail-able under your policy. For example, if they have $25,000 in coverage, and you have $25,000 in UM, you have no coverage available. A new law, which goes into effect January 1, 2009, will offer additional UM coverage for Georgia motor-ists. Beginning in January, under the above scenario, you will have access to the full $25,000 coverage of both the wrongful party’s coverage and the $25,000 from your policy. You will be adding on instead of reduc-ing the UM coverage available. As you might expect, there will be an increase in the premium to purchase this coverage. Georgia Law requires that the new coverage be automatically added to any policies that have UM coverage.

If you don’t want the UM coverage and the increase in your premium, you will need to sign a document saying that you reject the UM coverage. If you don’t sign the document, the coverage will automatically go into effect. Georgia Farm Bureau will mail out notices to all policyholders with UM coverage at least 45 days prior to the renewal of their policies. This letter will give you more details on UM coverage, the options you have and what you should do to exercise your options. If you have any additional ques-tions, be sure to contact your Georgia Farm Bureau agent at your county Farm Bureau office. Pat Bradley is the Risk Management & Compliance Manager of the Georgia Farm Bureau Insurance Companies.

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Member Services Update ByJay murDock

Since November of last year, the Georgia Farm Bureau Member Ser-vices Department has been soliciting feedback from you, our members, con-cerning any positive service experience you may have received from a GFB or county Farm Bureau employee. The response has certainly exceeded our expectations! Here is just a sampling of some of your comments:

About Pat Brinson, Dougherty County Farm Bureau Office Manager I have been with GFB for years. EVERY time I have been in the office or called, Pat is pleasant, friendly and ALWAYS ready to help. If I could just have that kind of service everywhere I went, I would be liv-ing in a perfect world.

About Ron Kibble, GFB Property Claim Specialist My house burned down in 2007. Ron was the most professional person I have ever dealt with. He was always support-ive and helpful. I don’t think I could have survived this tragedy without his help and support. He was my Rock of Gibraltar during this time.

About Johnny Garrison, Pickens County Farm Bureau Agency Manager After our son was involved in an auto accident, even though he was not at fault,

the “Good Hands” company denied our claim. Johnny and the guys at the office in Jasper came through just like they always do, and showed me that I was in better hands with Farm Bureau.

About Karen Clark, Ben Hill County Farm Bureau Secretary Karen is always cheerful, friendly, and very helpful. Karen is very professional. She is not just the secretary for our county office, she is family.

About Darrell Hobgood, Sumter County Farm Bureau Agent After the tornado of March 1, 2007 in Americus, we were devastated at our loss. Darrell Hobgood came to us with compas-sion for our loss and with a professional respect for the Farm Bureau. He worked with us in every way to meet our needs. He is a man of integrity and concern for his Farm Bureau members.

Georgia Farm Bureau is commit-ted to providing excellent service to our members. To that end, our insur-ance company is currently undergoing a top-to-bottom review of all of our processes and procedures to ensure your insurance needs are met in the most efficient and effective manner possible. This review, coupled with a long-term plan to upgrade our tech-

Helping you is what we do best

CORRECTION Phone numbers for two of the museums hosting the Smithsonian Key Ingredients exhibit were list-ed incorrectly in our last issue. To contact the McDuffie Co. Museum, which will host the exhibit 1/10/09-2/22/09 call (706) 597-1000. To contact the Butts Co. Historical Society call (770) 775-3313. The Georgia Humanities Council is the statewide host of the exhibit. Visit www.georgiafood-tour.org for more information.

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nological systems will ensure that our members continue to receive the top-notch service that you deserve. Georgia Farm Bureau is also com-mitted to continuing our efforts to add value to your Farm Bureau member-ship. The Member Services Depart-ment continuously assesses member benefit programs to ensure that the discount and service programs avail-able to you through your membership are second-to-none. Watch for new benefit programs that will be added in the next few months. We want to continue to recognize and reward those employees who have helped you in a special way. We encourage you to nominate individual staff members for this recognition by visiting our Web site at www.gfb.org and clicking on “Service Excellence,” or by sending a letter to Georgia Farm Bureau, P. O. Box 7068, Macon, GA 31209, Attention: Member Services Department. The winner of our Service Excellence Award will win a vacation for two to either (winner’s choice) the Bahamas or New York City! The mem-ber who submits the winning nomina-tion will receive $500 cash! All of us at Georgia Farm Bureau are proud to be serving you. Helping you is what we do best! Jay Murdock is assistant director of the GFB Member Services Department.


Preserving the Past

tepping onto the premises of Tea Grove Plantation is like stepping onto a life-sized

train set. Here, owner Danny Norman, who serves as the Liberty County Farm Bureau president, has recreated a Southern village modeled after the rural communities found across Georgia from 1900 to 1930. The village, which consists of about 40 buildings, is surrounded by a workable train track and includes a chapel, general mercantile, fire sta-tion and, of course, a train depot with an 1890 steam locomotive. Norman named his creation Walthourville Village after the community that once stood here. “The Walthourville post office sat here from 1905 to 1952, then the village was officially moved to what used to be Lambert,” Norman explained. “My grandfather ran the general store that housed the post office.” Tea Grove Plantation is part of property where his great-great grand-father attempted to grow tea in the 1830s, thus the origin of the farm’s name. Norman has records his great-

great grandfather kept that show he paid half a cent for imported tea plants. His grandfather rebuilt the homeplace in the 1870s and lived on the farm until the 1950s. “When my father acquired the property he modernized it and tore down all of the buildings. I was only ten to eleven years old, but it broke my heart,” Norman recalled. “It became a goal of mine to replicate what once stood here.” Rebuilding Walthourville also gave Norman a chance to fulfill a fantasy many boys have. “I always wanted a Lionel train as a child. When I grew up I figured I’d put in my own railroad. With time, I began to see if you have a train you need other things.” The village includes a turpentine still, cotton gin, printing press, black-smith shop, sawmill and gristmill – all workable. Norman began building his village in the early 1970s by construct-ing a sorghum syrup grinder to grind cane at Thanksgiving. He says the rest of the village mushroomed from there. “We tried to put back everything you can imagine seeing in a small town,” Norman said.

In addition to his village, Norman has an extensive collection of antique tractors, vintage automobiles, logging and farm equipment. He started work-ing at a local service station when he was 11. By the time he was 12, he had acquired 35 junk cars. Some he bought and some customers gave him. Today, his car collection consists of about 125 vintage models includ-ing a 1931 Ford Model A that won him a National First Place Prize from the Antique Automobile Club in 1994. Norman bought the car when he was 11, and used it to court his wife, Kathy, in high school. His 300-piece tractor collection includes a variety of brands but is mostly made up of Fords. He esti-mates he has bought out about five Ford dealerships over the years as they closed. In one of his storage buildings, he has recreated a 1950s era Ford tractor dealership using all of the advertising signs, banners, caps and boxed parts he acquired. Vintage political signs for Truman and Eisenhower also hang on the wall. Norman’s dealership houses his Ford tractor collection, which includes just about every tractor Ford

By Jennifer Whittaker

Time stands still at Walthourville Village.

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built including the first Ford 8N tractor that rolled off the assembly line in 1947. “It was a very popular tractor after World War II,” Norman explained. His collection also includes the first tractor he ever sat on when he was three – a Ferguson 30. “It’s important to me. It brings back memories. It started me on this quest of collecting,” Norman said. He belongs to about 20 car clubs and has traveled to almost every state to buy pieces for his collection. Every piece of equipment in his collection runs, and he knows how to operate it. He does the restoration work himself. “Making something run isn’t that complicated,” he said. “I think it’s important to maintain the equipment in its operational capacity.” Norman once held an annual festi-val at the plantation before he lost too many of his volunteers to either declin-ing health or death. He says he would like to hold the festival again, but he must first recover from heart surgery. “This is the kind of thing that if you don’t share it, you don’t really have anything,” Norman said. “One of the most rewarding things about this is stirring up people’s memories. I have seen people who, when they come to see the collection, get out of the car having a hard time walking. Then, they see a piece of equipment that their grandfather or father used, and their pace picks up.” The village comes to life every Easter when Norman hosts an egg hunt for his church. “I think when you give kids an opportunity to be in an environment to learn, there is a percentage that will be intensely interested,” Norman said. “I just like old things and have a lot of respect for the past. There are a lot of merits to preservation. Everybody can’t do it on this scale, but everyone can preserve something, “ Norman said. Norman’s grandchildren have already begun their own collections, and he’s established a trust to preserve the collection. “My endeavor is not to operate a resale business. If somebody doesn’t preserve these pieces, in forty years, they’re going to be gone,” Norman said.

Liberty County Farm Bureau President Danny Norman has an extensive automobile collec-tion. This 1939 Ford half-ton V-8 pickup is one of his favorite pieces.


By Jim GriffitHtimber Update

Everyone remembers the 1998 tim-ber market when prices went through the roof. The really unique thing about that market was prices for all timber

products skyrocketed at the same time. It was an extraordinary market that resulted from numerous circumstances occurring simultaneously. The econo-

my was good, building was booming and paper-packaging products were in hot demand. This drove up prices for solid wood products and pulpwood. Although demand for timber was high, the supply was down for several reasons. Canadian timber imports were at bay for the time. The endangered Spotted Owl had shut down logging in the Northwest. In the Southeast, rains came all summer long and set in to stay throughout the winter, result-ing in even lower inventory at wood manufacturing supply yards. This brief period was the perfect storm of circumstances that resulted in landowners receiving unprecedented prices for all timber products. We had not seen such high prices before that time and have not seen them since. Free trade agreements, global shrinking due to improved commu-nication and transportation, and ever-increasing imports into our country are anything but helpful to timber owners who wish to sell their products at those one-time high prices. The increase in international alliances and continued opening of our borders to developing countries that have lower production costs than the U.S. (due to subsidized timber and less stringent environmen-tal regulations) puts us at a competi-tive disadvantage that keeps our prices where they are. As the short-lived high demand and low supply of 1998 disappeared, so did our all-time high timber prices. Many timber owners have held off sell-ing their timber in hopes prices would climb to what they heard a neighbor got for his timber a decade ago. That was 10 years ago and if that is the price a landowner is still waiting on, then they have a long wait yet to come. Judging from the sluggish economy we are currently experiencing, some might think it’s not the time to consider selling any timber. Although pine saw-

Hardwood timber market seeing excellent prices

GEORGIA FARM BUREAU REAL ESTATE CO. • (478) 471-0440JIm GRIFFItH, BRokER

Georgia Farm Bureau Real Estate [email protected]

For more information on these and other propertiesVisit our web site @ www.gfb.org/realestate

Bacon co. 135 acres located on county road in rural area. Lots of peace and quiet. Excellent hobby farm and hunting property with plant-ed pines, cropland, hardwoods, and cutover. $2,250/ac. Jim Griffith (478) 747-0812.

BiBB co. Completely renovated 3 bedroom, 2 bath home in South Bibb County. Like New. New appliances. Big fenced in back yard. Great for the kids and pets. $124,000. Jim Griffith (478) 747-0812.

Bleckley co. 47+ acres on Ga Hwy 25. For more information call Anita Mullis (478) 960-1223.

Dooly co. Hotel on I-75 with 3.5 acres. For more information call Anita Mullis (478) 960-1223

Schley co. 15.3 acres on paved rural road.

Planted pines ready to cut with hardwoods along road and creek. Two creeks traverse the property with plenty of high ground. Property is located in the middle of Big Buck Country right outside Buena Vista with easy access to Columbus and Macon.

Sumter co. 50.2 acre timber investment. $2,500 per acre. Call Jim Griffith (478) 747-0812.

Sumter co. 283 acre timber investment $2,544 per acre. Jim Griffith (478) 747-0812.

terrell co. 157.655 acre timber invest-ment. $2,800 per acre. Call Jim Griffith (478) 747 -0812.

Wilcox co. 1,105 acre plantation. 3 ponds, great road system, equipment shed, etc. Call Jim Griffith (478) 747-0812.

NOW HIRING - BROKERS AND AGENTS. CALL JIM GRIFFITH (478) 471-0440

Timber Prices for August 2008

Continued next page

The following is a range of prices for pine pulpwood, chip-n-saw and saw-timber in general regions of Georgia. It is important to note that this is a range. Price will vary by specific location, logability of the tract, quality of wood, amount of volume and access. Time and need of specific buyers could greatly affect any price.

Areas Pine Sawtimber Pine Pulpwood Chip-n-SawNorth 28.00 - 35.00/Ton 4.00 - 8.00/Ton 12.00 - 18.00/TonMiddle 29.00 - 37.00/Ton 4.00 - 8.00/Ton 11.00 - 19.00/TonSouth 30.00 - 40.00/Ton 5.00 - 11.50/Ton 13.00 - 19.00/Ton

The prices quoted in this report come from timber sales managed by the Forestry Division of the Georgia Farm Bureau Real Estate Company or sales of which our foresters have direct knowledge.


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Georgia Farm Bureau will award a total of $14,250 in scholarships to 10 high school seniors who plan to pursue a college degree in agriculture, family and consumer sciences or a related field. Scholarships will be awarded to the top 10 applicants. The top three students will each receive a scholarship of $3,000. The remaining seven students will each receive a $750 scholarship. The scholarships are available to stu-dents whose parents or legal guardians are members of Georgia Farm Bureau as of Sept. 1, 2008. Students submitting an application must currently be a high school senior and plan to enroll in a unit of the University System of Georgia or Berry College during the 2009-2010 aca-demic year to pursue an undergraduate degree in agricultural and environmental sciences, family and consumer sciences or a related agricultural field. For more information or an applica-tion, contact your county Farm Bureau office. The application deadline is December 19, 2008. Applications must be approved and signed by the Farm Bureau president of the county where

Farm Bureau membership is held before being submitted to the home office. Each county may submit up to four appli-cations. You may download a copy of the application by visiting www.gfb.org and selecting “GFB Programs” and then “Youth Education” and finally “GFB Scholarships”. The Georgia Farm Bureau Scholarship Program is sponsored by the Georgia Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Compa-ny in cooperation with the GFB Women’s Committee. “The purpose of the scholarship program is to encourage outstanding students to continue their education in agriculture or a related field of study,” GFB Women’s Committee Chairman Kim Brown said. “These students are the future farmers, business people, scientists and politicians who will help lead agri-culture and our food and fiber industry successfully through the century.” Winners will be announced in March 2009. For more information contact the GFB Field Services Department at 1-800-898-1911, ext. 5365 or e-mail Donna Rocker at [email protected].

GFB offers college scholarshipstimber prices are somewhat reduced, I am receiving prices for hardwood that I have never seen before! These high hardwood prices are for both pulp-wood and hardwood sawtimber. If you hold off selling because of a neighbor’s advice, you might just miss an excellent peak in the market and find yourself waiting another 10 years wondering if the price is ever going to come back around. Will your neighbor chip in to cover the loss you incur due to their untimely advice? We have had several smaller cycles in timber prices during the past 10 years. If you are not close enough to the timber market to know when pric-es are rising, you might just miss one of these cycles, especially if it is short lived and gone by the time you get the word on the street. You may need Georgia Farm Bureau’s independent forestry professionals looking after your best interests. Call Jim Griffith at (478) 747-0812 to stay on top of the land and timber market. Jim Griffith is the general manager of the GFB Timber & Real Estate Companies.

Continued from previous page


What biotechnology is...

Answer key on page 20

Biotechnology is not new. It has actually been around for thousands of years. From 8,000 B.C. when humans began to modify plants through selective breeding to today’s microbiological techniques, we have been reaping the benefits of biotechnology. The discovery of penicillin as an antibiotic, the commercialization of human insulin to treat diabetes, and the techniques of pasteuriza-tion are just a few of the medical applications of biotechnology. Biotechnology can provide better and safer food production throughout the world by improving our environment, reducing crop losses due to drought, providing better nutrition, creating pharmaceuticals to help control and cure diseases and reducing de-pendency on non-renewable fuels. Biotechnology is…• Apowerfultooltoincreasefoodproduc-tion for a growing world while significantly improving the health benefits of our food• Aneffectivewaytoprotecttheenviron-ment while producing food• A way to produce safe and effectivepharmaceuticals For additional information, here are a few resources:

• www.ageducate.org Order “Bringing Biotechnology to Life”

DVD and Teacher’s Guide. You can also order the biotechnology “Ag Mag.”

• www.biotechinstitute.org• www.whybiotech.com

A. The transmission of genetic characteris-tics from parents to offspring.

B. Renewable liquid fuels made from plant matter rather than fossil fuels.

C. The total amount of genetic information in the chromosomes of an organism, in-cluding its genes and DNA sequences.

D. A branch of biology that deals with the heredity and variation of organisms.

E. A group of genetically identical cells or organisms that are descended from one parent.

F. Living organisms or living things (plants or animals) so small in size that they are only visible with the aid of a microscope.

G. The study of living things, including structure, function, growth and ori-gin.

H. Deoxyribonucleic acid: an extremely long macromolecule that is the main component of chromosomes and is the material that transfers genetic characteristics in all life forms.

I. A Hungarian engineer who first used the term “biotechnology” in a paper published in 1919; considered the “father of biotechnology.”

J. The basic structural and functional unit of all organisms.

K. The process by which humans modify nature to meet their needs and wants; a product of engineering and science used to solve problems.

L. The genetic material produced when seg-ments of DNA from different sources are joined to produce recombinant DNA.

M. Threadlike bodies found in the nucleus, or center part, of a cell that carry the in-formation of heredity.

N. A hereditary unit consisting of a sequence of DNA that occupies a specific location on a chromosome and determines a par-ticular characteristic in an organism, such as hair color.

O. Technology used to alter the genetic ma-terial of living cells in order to make them capable of producing new substances or performing new functions.

P. Methods and techniques that use living organisms or their parts or products as tools to make products to solve problems and that are useful.

Q. Any of numerous substances that consist of chains of amino acids, containing the elements carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxy-gen, and often sulfur. It is essential for life.

R. Crossing of individuals from genetically different strains, populations or species.

S. Biological material, including corn, switchgrass, and oilseed crops, that can be converted into fuel.

B I O T C H N L G Y O O G R B I C T H T

I I B V O L L R I G S E V E T S A O G G

O L O G Y D E H I N E M X C A N W H E O

T N E T A W V G N I R B I O M A S S N L

C H E B M O D A R E N I E M O Z A N E O

H Y B R I D I Z A T I O N B O I Z V T J

R X K O C O W F X O O F E I M O D V I P

O V Z U R L T M V R M U V N O E N T C R

M E A D O J O E Q P Z E V A V P T E E L

O Q W P O D D O C N E L I N W A Q T N I

S A V W R Z O Z R H A H W T I L F A G B

O A Z R G I F A V D N A G W V D I J I U

M V U M A V O Z Q K R O E Z A M C O N N

E M G E N E T I C S A M L A V U L W E O

S R L M I G I H N E D H Q O C O O M E X

W F D H S J T E C H N O L O G Y N V R J

M W U V M I R V E K E L I Y E Y E M I E

M K F P X N I R X F E K L P Z O K A N M

U D U L E N E G U V J G U E M O N E G O

N O F V E D O H R G P D M X C A K V M J

G M O O I M G X D Q V R Z V V Q F U G E

A K S T E V E S G I R L U L F H I A L L

U M Y K E R E L R A K W A F U M A W N U

1 - Biology2 – Technology3 – Biotechnology4 – Gene5 – Heredity6 – DNA7 – Protein8 – Genome9– Genetic engineering

10 – Microorganism11 – Hybridization12 – Biofuel13 – Biomass14 – Clone15 – Cell16 – Chromosomes17 – Genetics18 – Recombinant19 – Karl Ereky


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The Booth Western Art Museum is accepting entries for the 2008-09 Georgia Youth Cowboy Poetry Contest for students in 5th-12th grade. Entries are being accepted now through Feb. 16, 2009. Students will compete in the following age categories: 5th and 6th grades, 7th and 8th grades, 9th-12th grades. Students will write poetry rela-tive to the theme “The Spirit of the American West.” The top 12 finalists in each grade category will compete at the Booth Western Art Museum on March 15, 2009 in conjunction with the 6th Annual Southeastern Cowboy Gathering. The Booth Museum will offer free

cowboy poetry workshops conduct-ed by cowboy poets upon request that will cover the basic structure of cowboy poetry, rhyme schemes and patterns and presentation of cow-boy poetry. Workshops are planned for the Augusta, Columbus and Savannah areas. Other workshops

will be scheduled as requested. A minimum of 35 students per work-shop is required. Visit www.booth-museum.org to download entry applications and hear poetry from the 2008 contest. For more information contact Doc Stovall at [email protected] or call (770) 387-1265.

Wanted: Cowboy

poets

Winners of the 2008 Cowboy Poetry Contest are pictured with contest coordinators and sponsors.


By terry laysonMortgage Update

Georgia Farm Bureau Mortgage Ser-vices is now offering Federal Housing Administration (FHA) financing. As a FHA direct lender, GFB now offers up to 96.5% loan-to-value mortgages with a 3.5% down payment. We also offer 95% loan-to-value cash out refinancing of first mortgages. This provides GFB members with a way to get the cash they need to survive these hard times. Our members can consolidate their bills and get into a better position for the future.

Three reasons to considera FHA loan

1 Lower down payments & easier credit approval

FHA Loans have lower down pay-ments and more relaxed credit-qualify-ing guidelines than conventional loans. The federal government created FHA loan programs to encourage home-ownership. The FHA can help people obtain a loan with little or no down payment. The FHA does not supply the loan; it simply insures the loan to limit the risk to the lender.

Benefits of a FHA mortgage: • A 3.5% down payment, as

opposed to a 5% down payment on traditional loans

• Low monthly mortgage insur-ance

• Lowclosingcosts,whicharereg-ulated by HUD

• Nocreditscorerequirements • Qualifyforaloan2yearsaftera

bankruptcy • Qualifyforaloan3yearsaftera

foreclosure The FHA loan guidelines are more relaxed than conventional loan guide-lines. This includes less strict regula-tions about past bankruptcies and/or foreclosures, job requirements, use of alternative credit and debt-to-income ratios. The FHA ensures that their

interest rates remain competitive with the interest rates of conventional loans. In fact, lenders will offer you lower, more affordable rates because the FHA insures lenders, so they have less risk by taking you on as a borrower. FHA loans were originally created to help first-time buyers. However, people who are not first-time buyers may qualify. But, the FHA does not allow anyone to have more than one FHA-insured loan at a time. The borrower is required to pay an insurance premium upfront, but this premium can be financed into the loan amount directly. The borrower must also pay a monthly premium, which is .5% of the total loan amount divided equally over 12 months. Unlike a con-ventional loan, the FHA requires a termite report and clearance, as well as a few other property condition stan-dards, to qualify for a loan.

2 Fannie Mae Pricing Adjustments for 2008

New pricing adjustments based on credit scores went into effect for Fan-nie Mae and Freddie Mac on March 1. These adjustments make FHA loans a better alternative for consumers with a sub-680 credit score. Credit scores between 679 and lower have been divided up into four categories, each with a corresponding percentage of the loan to be paid as an additional fee. Here’s the Credit Score Categories and their corresponding fee percentages: • 660-679:0.750% • 640-659:1.250% • 620-639:1.750%

• 620orlower:2.000% If your credit score is, for example, 645 and you were purchasing a mort-gage on a $300,000 home, you would be forced to pay a credit-based fee of $3,750. If your credit score is 630 your fee would bump up to $5,250 and $6,000 for a credit score below 620. Borrowers will have three options for paying their credit-based fees. They can accept a higher interest rate that will account for the fees in a higher cost, build the fee into the new loan amount (only on a refinance) or bring extra cash to the table. Also effective in early March on all loans is a quarter-percent delivery. As of March 1, there is a quarter percent delivery fee on all FHA loans.

3 It’s easier to qualify for FHA Mort-gages

There are fewer restrictions for a FHALoanQualificationasopposedtoa standard mortgage loan. FHA Loan Qualifications: • Youwillneedtohave2yearsof

steady employment. Not neces-sarily by the same employer but it is preferred.

• Yourincomeshouldbesimilarorincreasing for the past 2 years.

• Youshouldhavelessthantwo30day periods of late payments on your credit reports.

• Ifyouhavedeclaredbankruptcy,then it must be at least 2 years old and you will have to have good credit since then.

• Foreclosureswillalsoneedtobeolder than 3 years and have good credit since then.

• Mortgage payment should beabout 30% of your gross income.

If you would like more informa-tion about the benefits of a FHA loan, please contact Georgia Farm Bureau Mortgage Services at 1-800-898-11911 Ext. 6309 or visit our Web site at www.gfbloans.com.

GFB Mortgage Services offers FHA mortgages


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Nearly $10,000 worth of prizes will be awarded to Georgia Farm Bureau members participating in the GFB Young Farmer Contests at the organization’s annual convention in December. Dodge, a long-time sponsor of the GFB Young Farmer Achievement Award and the Young Farmer Discussion Meet, will provide $500 cash for the winner of each contest. The contests are open to all young farmer members between the ages of 18 and 35. Applications for the GFB Young Farmer Achievement Award were judged this summer, and three final-ists were selected. Finalists for the award are: Ladon and Kayla Calhoun of Miller County, Cody and Lora Lord of Laurens County and Cory and Janie

Tyre of Bacon County. The contest winner will be announced during the GFB Awards program on Dec. 8. In addition to receiving a $500 cash award from Dodge, the GFB Young Farmer Achievement winner will receive a year use of a Kubota tractor

and an expense-paid trip to compete for national honors at the American Farm Bureau Convention in San Antonio, Jan. 11-14, 2009. The national winner will receive a 2009 Dodge Ram 3500QuadCab4x4truck.

Young Farmer Contests offer great prizes

The four finalists in the 2007 GFB YF Discussion Meet were, pictured from left: Clint Weatherby of Cherokee County, contest winner Chad Carlton, of Polk County, Will Boyd of Screven County and Steve Hayden of Spalding County.


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The GFB Discussion Meet will take place during the GFB Convention on December 7 and 8. Topics contestants will discuss during the competition include: How can the aging infrastructure of the U.S. support the transportation of agricultural commodities in the future? How do land-grant universities remain on the forefront of an ever-changing agricultural environment? How do we correct the misconceptions of Farm Bureau? How can Farm Bureau utilize the leaders it has developed in the Young Farmer Program? Complete rules and details of the discussion meet are available at county Farm Bureau offices and from the GFB Field Service office at 1-800-342-1192, ext. 5224. The deadline for entering the contest is November 7. The discussion meet winner will receive $500 from Dodge, an Arctic Cat 4-wheeler, plus an expense-paid trip to compete for national honors at the American Farm Bureau Convention in San Antonio, Jan. 11-14, 2009, for a 2009 DodgeRam2500QuadCabtruck.


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Maps aren’t just for navi-gating road trips. They’re also used for finding ship-

wrecks, exploring Egyptian pyra-mids, flying and exploring space. From Sept. 27, 2008 – Jan. 11, 2009, the Macon Museum of Arts and Sciences will host the international traveling exhibition National Geo-graphic MAPS: Tools for Adven-ture. This exhibit premiered at The Children’s Museum in 2006 and was then displayed at the National Geographic Museum in Washing-ton, D.C., in 2007 before embarking on a world tour that will include stops in South America and Europe. The stop in Macon is currently the only one scheduled in the South-east during the five-year tour. Exhibit displays are grouped by land, sea, air and space explora-tion and include lots of hands-on activities to help visitors navigate their way through new mapping technologies and ancient tech-

MAPS: Tools for Adventure

is $8 for adults, $6 for senior citi-zens 62 and over, $5 ages 12-17 and students with ID, $4 children 2-11.

niques. Visitors will be introduced to National Geographic explorers such as Dr. Zahi Hawass, who is responsible for many major archae-ological discoveries in Egypt, and Dr. J. Michael Fay, who trekked 2,000 miles across the African Congo in 1999 and 2000 document-ing vanishing wildlife. The museum is hosting special events for the exhibit that include a family day Sept. 27, a lecture by Dr. Zahi Hawass on Oct. 2, and a pre-sentation on Nov. 20 by Nagin Cox, who is the Deputy Team Chief of the Spacecraft/Rover Engineering Flight Team on the JPLS Mars 2003 Exploration Rover Mission. For more information about the exhibit or any of the special events, visit www.masmacon.com or call (478) 477-3232. The museum is open Monday-Saturday 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., Sunday 1 p.m.-5 p.m. and the last Friday of the month 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Admission


More people are taking an interest in where and how their food is grown. By shopping at one of Georgia Farm Bureau’s Certified Farm Markets, you can often buy your food straight from the farmer who grew it. There are 70 farms and markets across Georgia that participate in the program. Many sell the ingredients you need to have a tasty fall - apples, honey, muscadines, pecans, peanuts, sorghum syrup, sweet potatoes and turnips. We also have three farmers who produce naturally grown meat and egg products. When October rolls around and you’re looking for somewhere to buy a pumpkin, look no further than the nine pumpkin patches on our list. You’ll also find several markets that sell deco-rative corn and cotton stalks along with small hay bales. If you’re looking to have a little fun down on the farm, we have 11 farms on

our list that provide hay rides, petting zoos, corn mazes and special festivals. After Thanksgiving, when it’s time to pick out your Christmas tree, make plans to visit one of our seven Christ-mas tree farms located across the state. Visit www.gfb.org/cfmarkets/cfm.htm to access a complete listing of the 70 GFB Certified Farm Markets to help you plan your holiday menus and fall field trips.

Since it’s fall, we’re listing our mar-kets that sell apples and pumpkins or provide agritainment activities.

APPLES ---------------------------------

B.J. Reece Apple HouseApples, cider, baked goods

Ellijay•(706)276-3048www.reeceorchards.com

Hillcrest OrchardsApples, cider, petting farm,

Apple Pickin’ Festival(Sept. & Oct. weekends)Ellijay•(706)273-3838

www.hillcrestorchards.net

Hillside Orchard Farms Country Store

Apples, cider, bakery items, boiled peanuts, pumpkins

Corn maze (Sept.-Oct.) Fall Farm Day Oct. 25

Lakemont•(706)782-2776www.hillsideorchard.com

Jaemor Farm MarketApples, pumpkins, corn maze,

hayridesAlto•(770)869-3999www.jamsjellies.com

Little Bend Orchard’s Apple BarnApples, cider, baked goods,

sweet potatoesEllijay•(706)635-5898

Luke OrchardsPecans, candied nuts

RayCity•(229)455-3071

GFB Certified Farm Markets can help you buy food locally

Continued next page


ALASKA CRUISE

JOIN OTHER FARMERSYMT’s Alaska travel vacations offer a six-day deluxe motor coach tour of Yellowstone and Grand Teton NationalParks, as well as highlights of Canada and the PacificNorthwest. From Vancouver, BC, you’ll board a 5-star Holland American Line Cruise Ship for an amazing seven-day tour of Alaska’s Inside Passage. Prices for this fabulous 15-day vacation startat only $1,848 (per person, double occupany) including all taxes and port charges.Airfare is extra and starts at $700. Space is limited. $100 deposits are due now toreserve your tour. Add $150 for June and August and $300 for July departure dates.

For brochure, information & reservations, call:

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Add $63 cruise fuel chg.Aifrfare extra and starts at $700

PLUS PACIFIC NORTHWEST TOUR

May 21, June 18, July 16, August 13, August 27, 2009

Mack Aaron Apple HouseApples, cider, bakery items,

Ellijay•(706)273-3600

Mercier OrchardsApples, cider, bakery items, jellies

BlueRidge•(706)632-3411www.mercier-orchards.com

Panorama Orchards Farm MarketApples, cider, bakery items,

jellies, quiltsEastEllijay•(706)276-3813

www.panoramaorchards.com

R & A OrchardApples, cider, bakery items, jellies

Ellijay•(706)273-3821www.randaorchards.com

Rock Spring ProduceApples, boiled peanuts, jelliesRockspring•(706)375-6860

The Dacula BriarpatchApples

Dacula•(770)962-4990

www.marksmelonpatch.comDawson•(229)698-4750

Ochlocknee Ridge FarmsPumpkins, jams, jellies, fall crafts

Moultrie•(229)941-5971www.oridgefarms.com

Payne Farm & ProducePumpkins, gourds, corn stalks, flowers

Calhoun•(706)629-5704

Poppell FarmsPumpkins, corn maze, hayrides,

petting farm Odum•(912)586-2215

www.poppellfarms.com

Uncle Bob’s Pumpkin PatchPumpkins, gourds, crop maze,

petting zoo, nature trailsNewnan•(770)253-8100

www.uncle-bob.com

The Pumpkin PatchPumpkins, hay rides, petting zoo,

maze, Christmas treesStockbridge•(770)954-9356

www.aboutyule.com

AGRI-TAINMENT/PUMPKINS ----------------------------

Adams FarmsPumpkins

Fayetteville•(770)461-9395www.adamsfarmfayettevillega.com

Berry Patch FarmsPumpkins, Christmas trees, hay rides

Woodstock•(770)926-0561www.berrypatchfarms.net

Cagle’s Dairy FarmCanton Corn Maze Aug. 29 –Nov. 16

Resaca Corn Maze Sept. 20-Nov. 9www.caglesdairy.com

(770) 345-5591

Grandpa Jones Pumpkins & MorePumpkins, Indian corn, hayrides,

corn stalks and hay bales, concessions and picnic areas

Ellijay•(706)273-2306www.grandpajonescornmaze.com

Marks Melon PatchYou-pick pumpkins, peanuts, pecans,

hayrides and bales, cotton stalks

GFB Mutual Insurance Company

Annual Meeting of Policyholders

The annual meeting of the policyholders of the Georgia Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Company will be held Thursday, February 26, 2009, at the Georgia Farm Bureau Building, 1620 Bass Road, Macon, Ga. The meeting will begin at 10 a.m.

GFB Mutual Insurance Company

Annual Meeting of Directors

The annual meeting of the board of directors of the Georgia Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Company will be held immedi-ately following the annual meeting of the policyholders on Thursday, February 26, 2009, beginning at 10 a.m. at the Farm Bureau Building, 1620 Bass Road, Macon, Ga.


Large, corporate farms produce half of our food.FALSE! Non-family corporations produce only 6 percent of our food and fiber. Family-owned farms, fam-ily partnerships or family-owned cor-porations produce the remainder of American grown food. Farm families often form partnerships or corpora-tions for legal and business reasons, but they’re still family farms. Only 1% of U.S. farms are non-family owned corporate farms.

Producing ethanol is inefficient because it takes more energy to produce than it yields. FALSE! Recent news coverage stating this as fact has been proven incorrect. The research this was based on used old information to calculate energy inputs, crop yields, energy outputs and efficiencies. A study conducted by the Argonne National Laboratory shows that it only takes 0.74 million British Thermal Units (BTU) of fossil energy to produce 1 million BTU of

ethanol. The study showed it takes 1.23 million BTU of fossil energy to produce 1 million BTU of gasoline. If you include the solar energy inputs used to grow corn, it is true that it takes between 1.5 and 2 BTU to produce a BTU of ethanol, but since the solar energy is free, renew-able and environmentally friendly, we shouldn’t care.

Eating a genetically modified fruit or vegetable can change a person’s genes.FALSE! Whether they are genetically modified or not, all living or once living things contain genes. If you eat corn, do you become corn? Your body digests the proteins and absorbs the amino acids to use them to build proteins. Your body cannot tell where a protein originates. It treats all pro-teins alike.

The world can support more veg-etarians than meat eaters.FALSE! If all humans became veg-

etarians, there would be less food, not more. Information provided by the United Nations and the Central Intelligence Agency shows that 56.3% of the world’s land is grazing land while only 15.1% is cropland. If we take grazing animals out of the food system there will be less food, not more. Cattle graze and eat forages that humans cannot digest due to the fiber content. Fifty to 70% of a beef animal’s feedlot diet is inedible to humans. Cattle are also often fed byproducts produced by processing human food such as brewer’s grain from beer, citrus pulp or cottonseed meal. In the U.S., only 2.6 lbs. of grain are used to produce 1 pound of beef.

Global hunger is caused by a shortage of food.FALSE! The world produces enough food to feed everyone. Even Africa produces enough food to feed that continent. Hunger is caused by eco-nomic, political and social reasons. Some countries induce hunger for political or social reasons. Hunger is also caused by poverty in this country and elsewhere. Poverty results in the inability to purchase food, safely store food or transport food in areas where drought occurs.

Human activity causes all soil erosion.FALSE! Soil erosion is a natural phenomenon that occurs whether or not humans are present. Consider the creation of the Grand Canyon. However, human and animal activity can increase or decrease soil erosion. That’s why farmers implement man-agement practices such as no-till crop production to prevent soil loss.

Farmers use the most chemical pesticides per acre.FALSE! The U.S. Environmental Pro-tection Agency found that homeown-ers apply chemical pesticides at a rate eight times higher per acre than farmers do. Homeowners also apply chemical fertilizers at a rate three times higher per acre than farmers. Runoff from yards often runs into municipal sewer systems, which is discharged back into rivers or lakes. G

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Food for THouGHT How many times have you received an e-mail warning you about the perils of doing or not doing something only to learn later it was an urban legend? In this miraculous age of technology we live in, misinformation can speed around the world and become accepted as fact before the truth has a chance to be told. Many activist groups would have American consumers believe that agriculture is harmful to the environment, that our food supply is poisoned and that there is no need for animal agriculture. Below are some of the most common misconceptions about agriculture followed by the facts.


4

Rising prices at both the fuel pump and the grocery store have impacted almost everyone this year. Georgia’s farmers, who produce many of the products you find at your local gro-cery store, aren’t exempt from the rising costs. The skyrocketing price of fertilizer has forced Ben Boyd, a diversified farmer from Screven County, to borrow more than a third more money than he has in past years to produce his crops. Boyd, who grows corn, cotton, peanuts, soybeans, wheat and cattle, is dealing with more than just a casu-al input cost on his farm of around 2,500 acres. In 2006, Boyd was paying $7,375 for a truckload of one type of fertilizer. This year, he’s paying $31,250 for the same amount. That rising cost puts Boyd in a tough spot. With the cost of fertilizer so unpredictable, it is difficult for farm-ers to determine if they will have the same input cost three months from now as they have today. That, Boyd says, makes it harder for the farmer to make it to the end of the year. “The risk is just so much higher now because our input costs are so much higher,” Boyd said. “It’s just like rolling the dice. If the input costs go up, as long as you can pay it back, you’re fine. But one year when you stumble, that one year can probably put you out of business.” So how does a farmer such as Boyd combat the rapidly increasing costs of fertilizer? One way is to scale back the amount of fertilizer used and how it is spread in the fields. Boyd has been using a technique called “spoon-feed-ing.” He puts out a small amount of fertilizer before planting the crop and two more applications later on. The process, which takes more time than other methods of applying fertilizer, is not without its risks. Since fertilizer relies so heavily on rain, farmers such as Boyd are in a precarious position. If fertilizer is planted and it doesn’t rain, both the fertilizer and large amounts of money are pretty much wasted.

“Fertilizer is one of those neces-sary evils. You can’t afford it, but you can’t do without it,” Boyd said. “We’re putting the bare minimum because we’re trying to control our input cost because it’s so high.” Another way Boyd has tried to gain some ground has been through trying to use an alternative to fertilizer - chick-en litter. Unfortunately for Boyd, there are few chicken houses located in east Georgia. That leaves Boyd hoping for a lot of rain to soak the fields of his farm to give him a strong finish to 2008. “What really concerns me is that we don’t have any fertilizer bought for next year. That’s going to be the one that gets us,” Boyd said. Still, Boyd and his brother, Will, are hopeful that they will be able to turn their year around soon. UGA economists predict it will cost Georgia farmers 14 percent more to grow cotton this year than last and 49 percent more to grow corn. The produc-tion costs for growing peanuts are up 21 percent from 2007, while the production costs for soybeans are up 49 percent. Since 2002, costs are up between 40 and 75 percent for these same crops. All of these production cost estimates are for irrigated crops. Drought conditions or sporadic rain make it necessary for farmers to irrigate their crops. Irrigation systems are fueled by diesel fuel or elec-tricity, both of which have seen price

increases. In 2007 alone, total cash farm expenses rose to $222 billion, according to the USDA. “As supply and demand conditions change, the prices farmers receive are most likely to fluctuate, whereas the cost of production inputs, such as fer-tilizer, are much less likely to weaken,” explains McKissick. “Rising produc-tion costs have eroded many of the benefits farmers are perceived to reap from high commodity prices. For per-spective, consider that food prices have increased only about four percent in the last twelve months.”

Screven County farmers Will, left, and Ben Boyd have been forced to borrow more money to produce their crops this year than in past years because of rising fertil-izer prices.

Rising costs impact farmers, tooBy Brad Harrison


ontestants competing in the Georgia Egg Commission’s 25th

Annual Recipe Contest May 7 put on the ritz as they prepared scrump-tious dishes featuring eggs and crack-ers. Debra Brooks, of Byron, won the first place prize of $1,000 for her Extreme Cheesecake Bars that included Ritz Bits with peanut butter, chocolate chips and a Ritz cracker crust. Mary Louise Lever, of Rome, won the second place award of $500 for her Savory Spinach Brulee. Karen Slaughter, of Warner Robins, captured third place and $250 for her Nouveau Grahamy Cannoli recipe. “To celebrate the twenty-fifth anniversary of our recipe contest we thought of the theme ‘Puttin’ on the Ritz’ and decided to make crackers the featured ingredient required in the recipes in addition to eggs,” Georgia Egg Commission Executive Director Jewell Hutto said. “We also thought it would be the perfect time to let past winners, who normally couldn’t com-pete, enter the contest.” Brooks said her goal was to create

a simple recipe. “It didn’t take long to come up with the recipe. I just combined ingredients that everybody loves like chocolate chips, cheesecake and peanut butter. My children really loved it,” she said. This was not Brooks’ first time in the winner’s circle. She won the con-test in 1997. Normally, the contest is not open to previous first-place win-ners, but the anniversary exemption allowed Brooks and two other former first place winners to compete.Valerie Holt, of Cartersville, won the contest in 2002 and again in 2003 during the 20th anniversary celebration. Mary Louise Lever won the contest in 1991. Second place winner Karen Slaughter won second place in the contest in 2006. Other contestants were: Brad Allison of Braselton; Deborah Puette of Lilburn, Ali Merk of Commerce, Carla Garnto of Warner Robins, Betsy Podriznik of Lawrenceville and Virginia Webb of Clarkesville. “The Spirit and Flavor of Eggs” is the theme for the 2009 Egg Recipe Contest. Total prize money has been

Something’s Cooking

C

Extreme Cheesecake Bars

increased to $4,000. The first-place win-ner will receive $2,000, second-place will receive $850 and third-place will receive $650. The contest will be held May 6, 2009 at the Georgia National Fairgrounds and Agricenter in Perry. Georgia cooks are invited to enter the contest by submitting their original recipes by April 1, 2009. Recipes must use a minimum of four whole eggs, serve at least four people, feature a spirit (alcoholic bev-erage) or flavor (non-alcoholic) that will be apparent to taste, and be pre-pared in 60 minutes or less. A brochure containing the complete 2009 contest rules and the 2008 win-ning recipes is available by sending a self-addressed, stamped envelope to the Georgia Egg Commission, P.O. Box 2929, Suwanee, GA 30024.

Savory Spinach Brulee(Makes 4 servings)

Vegetable spray4 eggs, beaten2 (5 oz.) packages Boursin garlic and fine herb cheese, softened1/2 cup mayonnaise2 (10 oz.) packages frozen chopped spinach, thawed, drained well1/8 tsp. nutmeg, freshly grated

Egg Commission Recipe Contest turns 25By Jennifer Whittaker

Extreme Cheesecake Bars(Makes 4 large squares)

Vegetable Spray3 cups Ritz crackers, crushed1/2 cup margarine, melted2 tbsps. sugar1/4 tsp. salt4 (8 oz.) packages cream cheese, softened11/2 cups sugar4 eggs1 tsp. vanilla flavoringDash salt1 cup sour cream2 cups peanut butter mini sandwich crackers1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chunks1 cup milk chocolate chips11/2 cups toasted pecans, coarsely chopped

Chocolate, melted

Preheat oven to 350˚F. Lightly spray an 11x16 inch pan with vegetable spray; set aside. Mix together crushed crackers, margarine, sugar and salt. Spread mixture evenly on the bottom of pan pressing down. Mix together the cream cheese and sugar until well blended. Add eggs, flavoring and salt, stir to combine. Fold in sour cream. Pour mixture over crust and bake for 15 minutes. Remove from oven and sprinkle top with peanut butter crackers, chocolate chunks, chips and pecans. Continue baking for approxi-mately 12 minutes. Chill in freezer for at least 15 minutes or longer. Garnish with drizzled, melted chocolate.


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1 cup extra sharp cheddar cheese, shredded11/4 cups Ritz cracker crumbs, divided1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese1 tsp. thyme, finely chopped1 tbsp. Vegetable oilThyme sprigs, garnish

Heat oven to 350˚F. Spray 4 (8-9oz.) oven-proof ramekins or custard cups with nonstick spray. Set aside. Using a large mixing bowl, combine eggs, Boursin cheese and mayonnaise, blending until smooth. Stir in spinach and nutmeg. Add cheese and 3/4 cup crumbs, mixing well. Divide mixture into prepared ramekins and place on cookie sheet. For topping, combine remaining crumbs, Parmesan cheese, thyme and oil, stirring to mix. Sprinkle mixture evenly over ramekins. Lightly spray topping with nonstick cooking spray. Bake for 20 minutes or until just firm. Garnish with thyme sprigs.

Nouveau Grahamy Cannoli(Makes 14 servings) 5 large eggs, separated1 (12 oz.) package cream cheese, softened, divided1/2 cup butter, melted and cooled1 tbsp. molasses1 tbsp. Brown sugar, packed11/2 tsp. vanilla extract, divided13/4 cup graham cracker crumbs1 tsp. baking powder1/4 tsp. cream of tartarPowdered sugar for dusting2 cups marshmallow cream11/2 cups Cool Whip topping28 strawberries, quarteredGarnish with mint and strawberriesChocolate sauce (recipe follows)

Preheat oven to 425˚F. In a large mix-ing bowl, beat egg yolks until lemon

in color. Add 4 ounces cream cheese, butter, molasses, brown sugar and 1 teaspoon vanilla; mix well. Combine cracker crumbs and baking powder, and then fold into yolk mixture. Beat egg whites and cream of tartar until stiff peaks form. Fold egg whites into batter. Place a piece of parchment paper onto a large cookie sheet. Spoon 1/4 cup batter onto cookie sheet and smooth into a 4-inch circle. Cook 7 cakes at a time spacing them about 1/2 inch apart. Bake 7 minutes. Immediately place cakes tops down on a towel dusted with powdered sugar and roll. Let cool. Repeat with second batch. Makes 14 mini cakes. To prepare filling, cream together 8 ounces cream cheese and marshmallow cream. Add 1/2 teaspoon vanilla and cool whip top-ping. Chill until ready to use. To assemble, unroll cakes, spread 1 tablespoon of filling into center of rolled cake. Then add 2 quartered strawber-ries topped with a tablespoon of fill-ing. Bring tops of cakes together and dust with powdered sugar. Garnish with mint and strawberries. Serve with chocolate sauce.

Chocolate Sauce1 cup heavy cream1 tbsp. Butter12 oz. semisweet chocolate1/4 tsp. vanilla1 tbsp. coffee liqueur

In a saucepan, heat cream and but-ter on medium heat until butter melts. Place chocolate in a bowl. Pour cream mixture over chocolate and stir until smooth. Add vanilla and coffee liqueur and stir well.

Nouveau Grahamy Cannoli

Savory Spinach Brulee


by Guy Coalter,Special Features Writer

Canton OH, Special - Withhundreds of servants at her command... aperson would think our first First Ladywas a woman of leisure.Not so... according to a new historical

discovery. A long out-of-print volumeentitled, “The Martha Washington CookBook” shows Mrs. Washington personallysupervised her entire household staff...and especially the kitchen and diningroom servants.Martha made sure every dish served at

Mount Vernon... as well as in the firstPresidential “White Houses” in NewYorkand Philadelphia... was prepared exactlyas called for in her personal cookbook.The family cookbook was given to

Martha at the time of her first marriage.In 1749, beautiful seventeen-year-old

Martha Dandridge married Daniel ParkeCustis. As a wedding gift, the Custisfamily presented Martha with a familycookbook entitled Booke of Cookery andBooke of Sweetmeats.Handwritten by an unknown hand,

there is evidence the recipe book had beenin the Custis family for generations. It isquite likely this was a family heirloomdating back to the early 1600s. In all,there were over five hundred classicrecipes, dating largely from Elizabethanand Jacobean times, the golden age ofEnglish cookery.Later, Martha Custis became a widow

and in 1759 she married Col. GeorgeWashington. Washington was to becomethe Father of our country and its firstPresident. Martha, of course, became ourvery first, “First Lady.”Martha kept and used her family

cookbook for over fifty years. In 1799,she presented the book to her grand-daughter, Eleanor Parke Custis as awedding gift when she married LawrenceLewis.The cookbook was handed down from

mother to daughter until 1892 when theLewis family presented it to TheHistorical Society of Pennsylvania whereit still resides today.In 1940, the Society gave permission

to historian Marie Kimball to study themanuscript and prepare a cookbookentitled, “The Martha Washington Cook

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Old Cookbook Reveals

“Amazing Details of Washington’sDining Habits”

Martha Washington

Book.” Although now long out-of-print,an Ohio publisher was recently commis-sioned to reprint a limited edition of thisrare and amusing piece of Americana.Accordingly, a limited number of

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“The Martha Washington Cook Book”includes facsimile copies of several actualpages from the one-of-a-kind originalmanuscript. Then, Mrs. Kimball choseover 200 delicious unique recipes fromMartha Washington’s personal cookbookand completely modernized them so youcan easily prepare them in your ownkitchen!The original recipes were written for

a huge household including numerousservants. Many called for dozens of eggsand gallons of one thing or another.Marie Kimball “trimmed” each recipe toquantities of ingredients for a family of six.You’ll get dozens of delicious recipes

for Soups, Fish, Meats, Meat Pies, Poultryand Game, Sauces, Eggs - Mushroomsand Cheese, Fritters and Pancakes, Pastry- Pies and Tarts, Cakes, Creams and Jellies,Puddings, Preserves, and Beverages.

©2008 JDI M0113S

Perhaps more interesting forus history buffs is the detaileddescription of the kitchen and

dining habits in the George Washingtonhousehold. Martha sat at the head of thetable with her husband at her side to theright.

Despite dozens of servants around thetable, either Martha or George alwayscarved the meats to be served!You’ll absolutely love dozens of other

interesting details of this historical diningroom.

“The Martha Washington Cook Book”is a beautiful perfect bound book you willbe proud to display on your coffee table,bookshelf, or where ever you keep yourvery best books.Your friends and neighbors are guar-

anteed to be envious... and you areguaranteed to be completely satisfied withyour cookbook.You may examine and useit for a full three months and return it fora full no-questions-asked refund if youdesire.Although not available in bookstores,

you may order your cookbook directlyfrom the publisher. There is a strict limithowever, of only two copies per customer.To get your copy, simply write your

name and address on a plain piece ofpaper. Mail it along with your remittanceof only 19.95 plus $3.98 postage andhandling (total of $23.93, OH residentsplease add 6% sales tax) payable to:James Direct Inc, Special Offer M558,1459 S. Main Street, Box 3093, NorthCanton, Ohio 44720.You may charge to VISA, MasterCard,

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Oreck_GN_Sept12_PODNA:layout 1 8/22/08 2:44 PM Page 1

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