Spring Farmland Edition FARMERS & CONSUMERS Tommy /rv/n, Commissioner Georgia Deparfmenf of Agriculture Market Bulletin Vol. 77, No. 12 Wednesday, March 21,1990 Let's Pay Tribute To Our Providers The first day of spring traditionally heralds a new beginning and the promise of things to come. For this reason, it is only fitting that this date is annually proclaimed as National Agriculture Day. This is an excellent opportunity to recII ognize our food and fiber industry's many contriI buttons. I hope that I you'll join me in 'honoring our providers as we celebrate Agriculture Day in Georgia on March 22. Agriculture is Georgia's oldest and largest profession. Over the years it has evolved into a highly mechanized industry that must be managed with careful precision. Today, National Agriculture Week March 18 - 24 not only do farmers have to contend with the changing weather patterns and insect pressures, they must also monitor the latest breakthroughs in technology as well as possess an understanding of national and international markets and trends. Still, our farmers produce 80 percent more per acre than their fathers and feed more people than any of their counterparts in the world. Because of their efficiency, we can enjoy the luxury of spending only about 14 percent of our income on food. This is less than any other country on earth. The benefits we enjoy from our farmers can be found not only on our grocery store shelves, but can be felt in every city, county and state. Farming and farm-related businesses provide one out of every six jobs, most of which are located off the farm. So on March 22 and throughout the year, while you are enjoying one of the most abundant and diverse food supplies available, please take a little time out and give our hard working farmers the vote of thanks they deserve. Caution Urged When Buying The Georgia Department of Agriculture would like to express its appreciation to each individual who took the time and effort to participate in the 1990 Agriculture Day contest. The Department also would like to thank the school teachers who involved their students in the competition. Sponsors of this annual event deserve a special note of thanks. The Georgia Agribusiness Council, Gold Kist Inc., and the Metro Atlanta Agricultural Communicators are all commended for their support and generosity in providing more than $600 in prize money for the contest winners. The contest consisted of three school-grade divisions: 4th-5th, 6th8th, and 9th-12th. All contest winners received a cash prize along with an Agriculture Day certificate and a letter from Commissioner Tommy Irvin. In each division $125 was awarded for first-place entries, $75 for second-place and $25 for third-place entries. For a listing of contest winners, see page 24. Honoring America's Providers Imported or Georgia Commissioner of Agriculture Tommy Irvin is urging the public and commercial buyers of exotic birds to make certain they do not purchase smuggled birds. Exotic birds are those not native or indigenous to the United States. "Every year hundreds of exotic birds enter the country illegally after the winter breeding season. These birds often carry such diseases as exotic Newcastle without showing symptoms. The exotic Newcastle virus is deadly to all birds and could pose a serious threat to Georgia's poultry industry," Irvin said. Poultry is Georgia's largest agricultural commodity, with over $1 billion per year in value of production. While not fatal to humans, exotic Newcastle can produce eye irritations in people who contact infected birds, while psitticosis, another infectious disease, can transmit flulike symptoms, expecially to the young and elderly. An outbreak of exotic Newcastle in California in the early 1970s cost taxpayers $56 million to eradicate. If exotic Newcastle becomes established in the United States now, it would cost the poultry industry hundreds of millions of dollars and increase the cost of eggs and poultry to consumers, Irvin said. Irvin Selected for Agrirama Hall Of Fame Georgia Commissioner of Agriculture Tommy Irvin will be the first recipient of the newly established Agrirama Hall of Fame award. The award is designed to recognize the major accomplishments of Georgians in respect to agriculture and the protection of the state's agricultural heritage. Irvin will receive the award at the Hall of Fame celebration scheduled at the Gibb's House, located at the Agrirama in Tifton, on March 29 at 2 p.m. The establishment of the Agrir- ama Hall of Fame was recently announced by Ford Spinks, chairman of the Agrirama Development Authority; B.J. Sumner, president of the Georgia Agrirama Foundation; and Wilber Willis, executive director of the Georgia Agrirama. "Both the Foundation Board and Authority feel that recognition of individuals who have demonstrated a keen sense of the importance in preserving our agricultural heritage is long overdue," said Spinks. "The Agrirama, our state's official agricultural museum, is certainly an appropriate site to recognize their accomplishments." Irvin, a native of Hall County, has devoted more than three decades to public service. He has the distinction of being the dean of Georgia's constitutionally-elected officials, as well as being the longest serving commissioner of agriculture in the history of Georgia. Irvin has also served as a member of the Agrirama Development Authority since 1972. Exotic Birds "Pet dealers and individuals are running a risk when they buy illegal birds. Anyone who buys exotic birds in the United States should make certain they purchase them from legitimate sources," Irvin said. Under Georgia law, any person desiring to operate as a bird dealer must first apply for and obtain a license from the Georgia Department of Agriculture. In addition, each bird dealer is required to keep records which adequately identify each exotic or pet bird in his possession or sold by him by species, description or leg band number. The dealer must also record the name, address and telephone number of (Continued on page 24) Farm Front Conservation Plans Conservation plans have ; been developed on about 135 million acres of the nation's approximately 140 million acres oJE" highly erodible cropland, according to the U.Sr Department of Agriculture's Soil Conservation Service ;.". ...:.'.'. ..., .,-:. Farmers and ranchers have already fully implem^ntfed plans on 27 percent of the highly erodible crop; land- In Georgia, conservaX tion eonipjianee plans have been coinpleted; on :20,878 Laertes with conservation plaiis fullj implemented on 46&,862iacresorS0;6 oercent of the total, (^ tVie nation's highly erQdi|>le cropland without plans, about 5 million acres are temporarily exempted from having a plan until soil sur,veys are completed, The remaining acres include situaX tions where the land is no longer being used for cropping or where the person has decided not to develop a plan at this time. Page 2 Farm land for sale NORTHEAST Banks Co., 20.5 A., railroad frntg., 800' city water S2000/A., no building, all in timber. John Turner, Gillsville. 404677-4945. Gllmer Co.: 6.16 A. on trout stream, 2 1/2-3 A. bottomland $24,995, will fin., 30% dn. Mr. Noble, Rt. 1, Box 2605, Ellijay 30540. 404-635-7747 aft. 6 pm. White Co.: 480 A. Bean Creek Rd., hvy. timbered, old gold mine, water falls, good hunting/fishing, poss. Ik. site, elec., at the rd., near Unicoi. Peyton Mosher, Conyers. 404-922-2459. Banks Co.: 58+ A., 2/3 in fields, 1/3 in woods, sprg. on prop., 2 mi. off I-85 on Sims Bridge Rd. S1700/A. W.E. Robinson, Lawrenceville. 404-921-3651. White Co.: 5.2 A. near Ga. 400, trees, sprgs., elec., ph., a long rd. bordering prop, blacktop rd on 1 corner S5000/A. Henry Stauffer, Cleveland 30528. 404865-4740. Hall Co.: 70 A. near S. R. 400, Ik., streams, 58 A. pasture, 12 A. timber, farmhouse, barn, pvd. frntg.. $3500/A. Joseph Conner, 6543 Rufus Bryant Rd., Dahlonega 30533. 404-532-4880._____ Hall Co.: 40 A. improved pasture, fenced/cross fenced, w/barn, on pvd. rd. Ralph Farr, Murrayville. 404-534-3856. Hail Co.: 73 A. pine & hdwd., sml. stream, hilly, Hwy. 13 frntg., 3 mi. south of Lula, will fin. W. Henry, 1447 Dogwood Rd., Snellville 30278. 404-972-4818. Banks Co.: 41.28 A. all fenced, 22 A. open, 4 bdrm. house, barn, other storage, one chicken house, Ik., long rd. frntg., drilled well, Hwy. 184. J.R. Baird, Toccoa. 404-886-5808. White .Co.: 134 A. beau, wooded land, covered w/pines & hdwds., old farmhouse, sprgs./crks., joins Hwy. 129 N. Harold Turner, Cleveland. 404-865-2422 day, 404-865-2290 aft. 5 pm. Hall Co.: 5+ A., 3 bdrm. home overlooking beau, crk., native stone fplc., orchard, pasture, barn, wood shop, 2 wells, Irg. garden. D. Scroggs, Gainesville. 404-869-7039. Lumpkln Co.: 111/2 wooded A. w/long id.