Farm Bureau Day at the Capitol
spotlights agriculture issues

Pictured from right, House Speaker Rep. Glenn Richardson and House Agriculture Committee Chairman Rep. Tom McCAll present GFB President Wayne Dollar with a proclamation recognizing  Georgia Farm Bureau for the work the organization does to promote Georgia agriculture as the state’s largest general ag organization. Joining Mr. Dollar in receiving the proclamation were members of the GFB Legislative Committee Nora Goodman, GFB 3rd District director; Robert Fountain, Middle Georgia vice president; Randy Ruff, GFB 2nd District director and Gerald Long, GFB 9th District director. Also on hand to recognize the group were Rep.  Terry England and Rep. Jay Roberts, members of the House Agriculture Committee.

Georgia Farm Bureau members from across the state traveled to Atlanta, Feb. 9, to attend the organization’s annual Georgia Farm Bureau Day at the Capitol.

GFB members met at the Georgia Depot to receive an update on ag legislation being considered by the Georgia General Assembly before walking up the hill to the Capitol to meet with their legislators.

“There are many issues facing us, and the GFB Legislative Committee and I appreciate you being here to do something about them,” GFB President Wayne Dollar said when welcoming the members to the event. “I know you make a difference.”

Private property rights and eminent domain issues topped the list of Farm Bureau concerns. Gov. Sonny Perdue had just announced his property rights legislation the day before Farm Bureau members met in Atlanta. Reps. Steve Davis, Rich Golick, Glenn Richardson, Jay Roberts, Vance Smith and Wendell Willard introduced House Bill 1313 and accompanying resolution HR 1306.

HB 1313 redefines blighted property to mean property that is already urbanized or developed property that is deteriorated and causing imminent harm to life, is a repeated site of illegal activity or has a tax delinquency exceeding the value of the property. The bill should prevent government from declaring a run down barn or old house as blighted property since it specifically states that the property simply being run down does not meet the definition of blighted unless the property negatively affects human health.

Pictured from right, Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman John Bulloch and Lt. Governor Mark Taylor welcome GFB President Wayne Dollar, GFB 3rd District Director Nora Goodman and GFB Legislative Director Jon Huffmaster to the Senate Chamber during GFB Day at the Capitol. Sen. Bulloch presented a resolution honoring Georgia Farm Bureau for the contributions the organization makes to Georgia agriculture.

Pictured from left, Rep. Jim Cole meets with Jasper County Farm Bureau members Crystal Smallwood, Kelly Thomason and Scotty Dumas outside the House Chamber at the Georgia Capitol.

The bill also prohibits the use of eminent domain to seize property except for public use and specifically states that economic development does not constitute a public use. In the event there is a question as to whether a taking is for a public use, the burden would rest with government to prove the taking is necessary and that the use is, in fact, a public use.

In addition to compensating the landowner for condemned property, the bill authorizes additional damage awards including expenses involved in moving the business or farm, actual direct losses of tangible personal property resulting from the move, and expenses incurred in the search for a replacement business or farm. Farms are specifically included in the language. The bill also includes a provision that would allow owners to buy back their condemned property if it is not put to the stated public use for which it is condemned within five years of being taken.

HR 1306 provides for a constitutional amendment that requires elected officials, rather than appointed boards, to approve the takings authority.

Farm Bureau members were also asked to talk to their elected officials about HB 1135 introduced by Reps. Tom McCall, Richard Royal, Jay Roberts, Ed Rynders and Ellis Black. This bill proposes a sales tax exemption for any fuel used on a farm or in the forest for the production of ag products. During the week of Feb. 20, a fiscal note was released showing that the exemption would decrease the state treasury by $15 million. At press time, the bill was being considered by the House Ways & Means Subcommittee.

Farm Bureau members were also briefed on SB 453 introduced by Sens. Brian Kemp, Tommie Williams, Greg Goggans and Sam Zamarripa. This bill requires that all public school districts, county and municipal governments and state departments and commissions in Georgia would use biodiesel beginning Jan. 1, 2008. At least 2% of all fuel purchases would be B100 fuel. Governments could forego the purchase requirement if biodiesel costs 5% more than regular diesel. The bill passed the Senate on Feb. 13 and was set to go before the House at press time.

A proposed bill that would establish a commodity commission for the equine industry was also of interest to some Farm Bureau members. SB 380 originally proposed establishing an Equine Commodity Commission funded by a tax on horse feed. The proposed feed tax was dropped and the idea of an equine commission may be dropped in favor of selling a specialty vehicle tag to raise funds for equine promotion.

“So many people think of horses as companion animals, but equine is the number five commodity in the state, and we need to let the public know this is a viable industry,” said GFB Equine Committee member Tom Kerlin.

During the luncheon at the Georgia Depot, members visited with their legislators and heard comments from elected officials including Gov. Sonny Perdue, Lt. Governor Mark Taylor, Secretary of State Cathy Cox, Agriculture Commissioner Tommy Irvin, Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond, and Attorney General Thurbert Baker. Additionally, House Speaker Glenn Richardson, Senate President Pro Tempore Eric Johnson, Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman John Bulloch, and House Agriculture Committee Chairman Tom McCall also addressed the Farm Bureau members during the luncheon.