FARMERS & CONSUMERS Tommy Irvin, Commissioner Georgia Department of Agriculture Market Bulletin Volume 62 FOR SUBSCRIPTION AND ADVERTISEMENT INFORMATION SEE PAGE 2 Wednesday, January 28, 1976 Number 4 Hugfc 0. Hunt Food Processors Aid Georgians The Southeastern Food Canners & Freezers Association is a new organization whose members are food processors in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee, and whose associate members are suppliers of equipment, goods and services to the members. The organization serves Georgia Consumers and Georgia farmers. The regional association was formed in 1974 as the successor to a state canners organization. Its objectives are to provide its members with information pertaining to governmental actions affecting the canning and freezing industry; to supply its members with information pertaining to technological and business trends; to promote a better understanding of the food industry; to further the re- (Our guest columnist this week is Hugh 0. Hunt, President, Southeastern Food Canners and Freezers Association, P. 0. Box 73, Grif- f in 30223.)________________ search and educational interests of its members; and to foster and preserve within the industry a feeling of responsibility for rendering maximum service to the public. About half of our members are Georgia companies. All of our members buy raw products or sell processed products in Georgia. The current membership of fifty firms includes fruit and vegetables canners and freezers, seafood canners, meat canners and poultry canners. Our members believe that although products and processes may vary there are many areas of common interest and concern in which all can benefit by association and common action. By helping its member processors do a better job, the association will also better serve the public. One of the major challenges to the industry today is the increasingly costly burden of federal and state legislation regulating such activities as processing methods, packaging information, record keeping, waste water disposal, and employee safety (Continued On Page 8) Go. Legislature Bill To Provide EPA Compliance In 1972, the U.S. Congress passed the Environmental Pest Control Act which, among other things, called for the certification of all persons applying certain restricted pesticides. The Act required individual farmers as well as commercial applicators to be certified by October of 1976 or they could not purchase restricted pesticides. This year, Congress delayed the effective date of this Act by one year, October, 1977. Today, the Georgia Legislature with its excellent agricultural leadership in the House and Senate, has introduced legislation which will make it possible for Georgia farmers to comply with this federal law with as little trouble and interruption of work as possible. Although the Georgia Department of Agriculture fought this EPA Control Act, the department has worked diligently since the Act first became law to be prepared so our farmers and applicators would suffer as little as possible from its ramifications. In fact, Commissioner of Agricul- (Continued On Page 8) Go. Vet Advisory Board Reports On Animal Industry The Veterinary Advisory Board was created by- the 1975 General Assembly to work with the College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Georgia in an advisory capacity. It has been organized, has held several meetings and is working closely with the University, with the Georgia Department of Agriculture and with the General Assembly. Tree Seedlings Available Again Due to cancellation of some orders, the Georgia Forestry Commission has a limited number of loblolly and slash pines, catalpa, red cedar, sawtooth oak, Virginia pine, sweet gum and yellow poplar tree seedlings for sale to Georgia landowners, on a first come first serve basis. The cost per thousand trees is loblolly and slash pines, $7; Virginia pine, $8; Jcatalpa, sweet gum and yellow poplar, $15; and red cedar and sawtooth oak, $20. Tree seedling application forms may be obtained by calling 912744-3243 or from Forestry Commission County Rangers, County Agents, Soil Conservation Service Technicians and Agricultural Conservation Program Officers. For further assistance contact your local county forest ranger. The first report of the Veterinary Advisory Board lists the following summary comments: CONCLUSIONS 1. Animal disease research has been neglected resulting in unnecessary losses to producers and to tax receipts at all levels, and to higher costs to consumers. 2. The lack of funds to develop a continuous research program in animal agriculture has contributed (This article was prepared especially for the FARMERS AND CONSUMERS MARKET BULLETIN by Abit Massey, Executive Secretary, Veterinary Advisory Board.) to the shortage of veterinarians in rural areas. 3. Many highly qualified Georgians are denied admission to Vet College because more than half the student body must be from out of state and the number applying each year is many times the number of spots available to Georgians. 4. Predictions are for an even greater shortage of veterinarians. 5. Facilities and staff are limited considering the importance of animal agriculture, the extremely large number of applicants and the need for veterinarians. RECOMMENDATIONS The Veterinary Advisory Board and Advisory Council met recently with Governor George Busbee. The groups, representing all segments of animal agriculture, work with the College of Veterinary Medicine and the General Assembly on policies and programs. Left to right are Dr. Charles Dobbins, Dr. Herman Westmoreland, Dean Dave Anderson, Bill Moore, Abit Massey, Rudolph Clark, Governor George Busbee, Lee Arrendale, Dr. O. E. Sell, Dr. J. T. Mercer, John A. "Red" Smith and Leo Moore. 1. The Veterinary Medical Experiment Station, created in 1973, but not funded, should be identified as one of the budget units under the Board of Regents. 2. The Veterinary Medical Experiment Station should be adequately funded. $1,000,000 is not unrealistic considering the importance of the livestock and poultry industries, Georgia's growing horse population and pet industries. 3. Research in animal agriculture is essential also to obtain additional instructional information; train students and graduate students, expose them to the importance and opportunities in animal agriculture in Georgia, and provide continuing education (Continued On Page 8} Page 2