2009 Georgia Farm Bureau Commodity Conference
The Georgia National Fargrounds and Agricenter in Perry was home to the 31st annual Georgia Farm Bureau Commodity Conference. More than 200 farmers from across Georgia attended the event, which is the official kick-off to the organization's policy development process.
The opening session of the conference brought several speakers to address the attendees. Their main topic: food safety and crisis preparedness.
"There's a big debate going on in Washington on food safety. We've seen what happens to our industry when something happens," said Zippy Duvall, President of Georgia Farm Bureau. "As growers we have to be proactive. What we've got to be aware of, the people in this country and around the world are going to demand that we prove the things we are doing on the farm are safe."
Dr. Darlene Cowart, President of J.L.Leek and Associates in Albany, spoke about the reasons growers need to implement good food safety practices. She specifically addressed the peanut industry, but said the information can be applied to all crops.
"Food quality is established at the farm," Cowart said. "Growers are the first link in the chain of food safety and quality. Food safety is an issue that requires all segments of the industry to work toward the common goal of supplying the safest and most wholesome product to consumers."
She encouraged growers to document the steps they take in the food safety and management process, as well as training farm employees to understand and implement those steps.
When a food safety crisis occurs, it's vital that growers and the ag community respond quickly and appropriately. That was the message from Gary Caloroso,Vice-President of Sahlman-Williams Public Relations & Marketing. Sahlman-Williams handles public relations for the Georgia Pecan Commission and the Georgia Ag Commodity Commission for Peaches.
"Recent salmonella outbreaks cost peanut and tomato producers millions of dollars. The media bases its stories on information provided by government and industry. Crisis management is more crucial than ever."
Caloroso said it's important that ag producers and organizations have a crisis plan in place in case something occurs, and implement that plan as soon as possible.
Any type of food crisis, such as the Peanut Corporation of America salmonella case from 2008, can lead to excess government oversight and public scrutiny. That, in turn, can lead to activists challenging the current system. In many cases those activists have an ulterior motive, according to American Farm Bureau livestock economist James Sartwelle.
"There are a lot of (economic) challenges to U.S. agriculture, but none of these issues have the potential to make a sector of U.S. agricultur disappear," Sartwelle said. "It's dangerous when animal activists set the agenda."
He cited California's 2008 Standards for Confining Farm Animals initiative (best known as Proposition 2) as an example of steps animal activist groups have taken in their long-term efforts to destroy animal agriculture.
"People will vote for things they don't understand, because they're takng the opposing side's viewpoint as fact," he said, adding that ag producers must explain the facts and science behind their views and the potential negatives of opposing viewpoints.
During the afternoon, break-out sessions were held. Each of GFB's twenty commodity advisory committees met to discuss the issues of concern to the various commodities. GFB places a strong emphasis on the commodity committees, and values the work they do in preparing the organization's policy for the next year.
Addressing the group, President Duvall reminded attendees, "this meeting kicks off our policy development process. This is a meeting where farmers focus on the future. Today, we need you to focus on the future."
"Georgia Farm Bureau relies heavily on your volunteer leadership to get our agenda completed. We touch on every commodity, and value your input on your commodity. Your involvement is critical to any success we might have."
Also at the conference, Georgia Farm Bureau presented its 2009 Commodity Award to William L. "Bill" Lanier of Candler County. Mr. Lanier is a former GFB president, serving from 1964 until 1970. He also served six terms in the Georgia House of Representatives, held several positions within USDA and has been a lifelong farmer. He has been named Tree Farmer of the Year, "Man of the Year in Georgia" by Progressive Farmer Magazine, and in 2004 was inducted into the UGA CAES Georgia Agriculture Hall of Fame.
Mr. Lanier serves as president of the Candler County Farm Bureau, a position he has held for the last 21 years. He and his wife Jean have been married since 1987.