FARMERS & CONSUMERS Tommy Irvin, Commissioner Georgia Department of Agriculture Market Bulletin Vol. 71, No. 47 Wednesday, November 20, 1985 Farm-City Week Promotes Unity This is the time of year when people think of harvesting crops, getting ready for winter and being thankful for the abundance of food. It also is time to stop and recognize the im- portance of people working together to improve their communities. Farm-City Week is a national program designed to bring about better understanding between rural and urban people, and to increase the knowledge and appreciation of each for the American way of life. It is a week-long series of community events and will be observed this year on November 22-28, 1985. The week appropriately ends on Thanksgiving Day. Horace E. Hudson, Head, Community Development Department, State Farm-City Week Chairman, Cooperative Extension Service, The University of Georgia, Athens 30602. _____________ The people of Georgia are building a great state. Presently it is recognized as the fastest growing state behind Florida in the southern region. This growth, while exciting for some, places strains on rural and urban relationships as communities attempt to grow in harmony. Although the state is growing as a whole, many rural counties continue to lose population. Counties around the major cities, known as "bedroom counties" are receiving the growth. New houses and subdivisions are being interspersed throughout the countryside. Trying to mix people with city ties to people with rural ties in a historic rural environment creates problems. Growth is occurring and cooperation is a must. As these new relationships build it is important that city people understand the problems and practices of agriculture. It is equally important that our farmers understand the problems of businessmen and city relationships. Issues such as where to build new housing and subdivi- sions, land-use planning, water, transportation systems, and balanc- ed growth must be addressed. (Continued on Page 4) Ireland-Based Firm Selects Ga. As Site for Dairy Operations Last week, Governor Joe Frank Harris announced that Masstock International, a Dublin, Ireland-based firm plans a $35 million expansion into the United States dairy industry. The company will center its opera- tions in middle and south Georgia in Decatur, Dodge, Dooly, Early, Houston, Lee, Macon, Miller, Pulaski, Seminole and Sumter counties. Initially there will be five farms of 1,000 cows each. That figure should be increased to 2,000 cows each within the first two years of operation, according to Masstock officials. A milk processing facility will be based in Crisp County. When the five farms are fully completed, total employment is expected to reach 800 to 900, with upper level technicians being brought in to implement the state-of-the-art dairying technology for which the firm is known. Long-range plans are for at least 10 farms of 2,000 cows each in the next five to seven years. Georgia was chosen for the project because of the "tremendous future market expansion possibilities in both Georgia and the rest of the Southeast," said Masstock chief executive officer Sean Henneberry. "The projected population growth in Georgia and Florida, in particular, is especially attractive to us. We also recognize that the supplies and suppliers which we will require on readily available here in Georgia." Governor Harris noted that the plans for the dairies are significant for another important reason. "The majority of the forage and feedstuff production will be contracted with local farmers, and this should provide a substantial boost to agricultural producers in Georgia," he explained. "These plans may initially include renting some irrigated land in order to control the quality of the feedstuffs." Commissioner of Agriculture Tommy Irvin and his staff, along with staff from the Georgia Department of Industry and Trade and local officials, have been working with Masstock representatives to facilitate their efforts in locating here. Irvin said he was delighted that the company had chosen Georgia. "Our state has unique attributes that will contribute substantially to the success of an endeavor such as this," Irvin pointed out. "We have the water and land resources necessary for an operation of this size, and the benefits that will come to our farm and agribusiness communities will be substantial." Masstock International has been described as "one of the most in- novative and expansive companies are the international agribusiness scene." In recent years, the company has been involved in grasslands development and the manufacturing and marketing of milk-based products in Saudi Arabia. Most recently, the firm has supplied technology to a dairying operation in Canton, the Peoples Republic of China, jointly run by the Beijing Government and a Hong Kong group, Lark International. December Handicraft Edition The handicraft edition of the MARKET BULLETIN will be published December 11. Deadline for notices is November 27. An affidavit stating that the handicraft item was made by the individual advertiser and not purchased for resale, must be included with the notice. Otherwise, it will not be published. Farm Front A bill has been introduced in the U.S. Senate that would deny Federal agricultural program benefits to persons convicted of planting, cultivating, growing or harvesting controlled substances. The bill is aimed at those who grow marijauna between tall row crops such as corn, and will likely be offered as an amrnendinent to the farm bill. The U.S, Department of estiinates t]!iit 1Its went to persons eonyicteti of planting, growing, tivating qr itafyesting ^olle^^s : ;^hs :" :;:pjppdsjfd:;.;: :.legislatticm: