From the February/March, 2008 issue:

GFB Day celebrated at State Capitol
House Agriculture Committee Chairman Tom McCall presented a resolution in the House honoring GFB. Pictured from right: House Speaker Glenn Richardson welcomes Rep. McCall, GFB President Duvall, GFB Vice President Brent Galloway, Bonnie Duvall, and GFB Vice Presidents Gerald Long and Donald Childs.
Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman John Bulloch (back row, center) escorted GFB leaders to the Senate chanber where he read a resolution honoring GFB. Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle (back row, far right) welcomes (right to left) GFB President Duvall and his wife, Bonnie; Sen. Bulloch, and GFB Vice Presidents Donald Childs, Brent Galloway and Gerald Long.
Governor Sonny Perdue announced legislation that would limit liability for landowners who open their property to hunters and agri-tourists while addressing Georgia Farm Bureau members during the organization's annual Farm Bureau Day at the Capitol, Feb. 12.

“Georgia is our nation's number one hunting destination, and our agritourism industry is growing. You've got things people want to see and learn about, and I want landowners to feel comfortable in opening up their land to visitors,” Perdue said.
Senate Bill 449, known as the Landowners Protection Act of 2008, was filed Feb. 12 by Sen. Bill Heath (R-Bremen), one of Gov. Perdue's Senate floor leaders. The proposal will protect landowners who allow individuals to hunt on their property from being sued for accidents arising during a hunt. Likewise, landowners operating an agritourism attraction would not be held liable for accidents or injuries that may occur during the visit. Property owners would continue to be held responsible for gross negligence or deliberately putting people in danger. Perdue said the bill has 34 cosponsors in the Senate.
“The Landowner Protection Act goes right along with one of Farm Bureau's main issues that we've been promoting for the last several years and that's liability relief for farmers when they invite people onto their farm for agritourism or ag education events,” Georgia Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall said. “This is great news for Georgia agriculture, and we are real excited about the Governor's announcement.”
More than 500 GFB members traveled to Atlanta to meet with their legislators during the annual legislative event. Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle welcomed the Duvalls and GFB Vice Presidents Donald Childs, Brent Galloway and Gerald Long to the Senate as Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman John Bulloch presented a resolution proclaiming it Farm Bureau Day at the Capitol. House Speaker Glenn Richardson welcomed the GFB delegation to the House where House Agriculture Committee Chairman Tom McCall presented a resolution honoring the organization.
Both Lt. Gov. Cagle and House Speaker Richardson spoke at the legislative luncheon held at the Georgia Depot.
“We need to always fight to insure that farmers' property taxes remain low so you can continue to do what you do,” Cagle said. Cagle commended GFB members for keeping legislators informed on farm issues.
Richardson announced legislation that Rep. Richard Royal introduced Feb. 13 to establish a tax classification for forest land, separate from the Conservation Use Value Assessment (CUVA). The Georgia Bona Fide Large Forest Conservation Use Act of 2008 (HB 1211), introduced by Royal and co-sponsored by Reps. Jay Roberts, Jerry Keen, DuBose Porter, Jim Cole and Johnny Floyd, seeks “to provide for the special assessment of bona fide large forest land conservation use property” as it relates to ad valorem taxes for tracts of land of more than 500 acres. Unlike CUVA there is no acreage limitation. To receive the preferential tax treatment, landowners will have to enter a strict 15 year covenant.
“We have virtually taxed tree growing out of existence in Georgia, and I believe it's time we do something about it,” Richardson said.
Richardson also called for putting “some serious money into the building of water reservoirs” in Georgia.