From the April, 2007 issue:

GFB hosts Sustaining Young Farmers Conference

U.S. Rep. Jim Marshall talks with GFB Young Farmers attending the Sustaining Georgia Young Farmers Conference.
Almost 100 young farmers attended the Sustaining Georgia Young Farmers Conference, March 3-4, Georgia Farm Bureau held in Macon.

Livestock, row crop and specialty crop producers shared management strategies they have adopted to make their farms profitable. Representatives from Ag South Farm Credit, UGA and Case IH talked to the group about securing business loans and crop forecasts.

U.S. House Agriculture Committee member Rep. Jim Marshall gave a Washington Update during a dinner held at the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame. Marshall discussed the upcoming 2007 farm bill, calling for an increase in the baseline projections for the new bill. Marshall stressed the importance of fair international trade and the importance of securing our national borders and establishing a workable identification system for business owners who employ foreign workers. Marshall also voiced his optimism for the future of agriculture due to the growing demand for renewable fuels.

“The purpose of this conference is to help young farmers thrive in their operations and show them Farm Bureau is here to support them,” GFB Young Farmer Committee Chairman Chris Paulk said. “In most rural counties young people are an export. The more people we can keep in agriculture the more successful our industry will be.”

GFB President Zippy Duvall challenged the young farmers to be active in their county Farm Bureaus, local communities and participate in the GFB Young Farmer Program.

Special thanks go out to the following GFB members who gave presentations sharing the innovative management strategies they have adopted on their farms: Donald Chase, Chris Hopkins, Justin Long, Russ Moon, Chris Paulk, Andrew Thompson, Michael Williams and Relinda Walker. Presentations by Merrill Folsom of AgSouth Farm Credit, Bart Bales with Case IH, Joel Paz, UGA Extension Service and Andy Lucas, GFB commodity specialist, were also appreciated.