{;' H-DO ?I =1 7/40 Visit Our Website l\IIARKET BULLETIN GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE TOMMY IRVIN,COMMISSIONER Vol.~. No. 40 fft~F~ Decade ofProgress For Ga. Natl. Fair It has been 10 exciting years since the first event at the Georgia National Fairgrounds and Agricenter. Since that time, more than 6.6 million people have attended events at the F~rgrounds. The annual Georgia National Fair, which has been our main attraction for 10 years, continues to draw crowds each year. The 11th annual fair is set for October 6 - 15. I feel confident it will be a great time for our fairgoers, exhibitors and competitors. The addition of several buildings during the past 10 years has added to the overall appearance and versatiiity of the Agricenter. The Roquemore Conference Center (1994), Multipurpose Livestock/Exhibit Building (1995), and Sheep/Swine/Goat Barn II (1996) have met the needs of larger crowds and exhibitors plus demands of meeting and conference coordinators. Our guest columnist this week is Michael Froehlich, executive director, Georgia National Fairgrounds and Agricenter, 401 Larry Walker Parkway, Perry, GA 31069, 1-800-987-3247 (tollfree in Geor.gia only), (912) 987-7218. 0 The original 628-acre site has now expanded to more than 1,100 acres. The Georgia Department of Transportation has opened a new interchange (Exit 134) connecting I-75 with the southwest comer of the fairgrounds. A new South Gate entrance will be added to compliment this new interchange. Another upcoming project is a new 65,000-square-foot exhibit/conference building. Other major improvements durfug the first 10 years include the agricultural office/conference complex, two storage buildings, east parking lot expansion; and internal roadway improvements. As you can see, the Georgia National Fairgrounds and Agricenter is still a work in progress. As it grows and develops, the Agricenter continues its mission to showcase agriculture; to provide facilities for 4-H, FFA, and youth activities; to provide facilities for year- round usage to increase economic impact and tourism; and to stage the annual Georgia National Fair. ~. Credit goes to the state of Georgia for (Continued on Page 12) Wednesday October 4, 2000 Copyright 2000 USDA P1!6t ~ Proposal Makes Emergency Loans Easier to Get Irvin Proposes The U.S. Department of Agriculture is proposing changes that will streamline rejections that an applicant must acquire to demonstrate that other credit cannot be Fee Increases emergency farm loan requirements to make it easier for farmers to qualify and so that farmers will get the loans more quickly with less paperwork. "The proposed changes would simplify the process for estimating obtained. 2. Simplify the process for estimating production losses. 3. Remove the requirement that emergency loan applicants be able to provide collateral to secure an emergency Georgia Commissioner of Agriculture Tommy Irvin has announced he will again be proposing legislation during the 2001 Legislative Session to allow him to increase registration fees in the Department of Agriculture's Pesticide losses, would remove the need for collateral, and increase the loan limit from 80 percent to 100 percent of loan. 4. Require applicants to obtain crop insurance on crops used as security. Division and will recommend license fee increases in its Structural Pest Control Division. The proposal will seek the production losses," said Farm Service Agency Administrator Keith Kelly. The proposed changes will allow more farmers to be eligible for emergency loans and help them maintain their 5. Eliminate the current $5,000 family-living expense withholding at closing. 6. Increase the loan limit of 80 percent of production losses to 100 authority to use the additional fees to enhance these programs. The proposed increases will be for licenses for structural pest control companies and for certified pest control operations while recovering from natural disasters, he added. These changes will: percent. 7. Allow livestock production losses to be considered physical losses rather operators l;llld technicians. Irvin is also proposing increases for pesticide registration fees in the state. "Currently, 1. Reduce the number of written than production losses. chemical companies seeking to register a pesticide for use in Georgia pay the Pecans Get Help From Early-September Rain lowest registration fee in the nation - ten dollars," said Irvin. "In some states it is Pecan growers collectively gave a sigh of relief as timely September rains fell on state orchards during a critical growing stage, according to Tom Crocker, a horticulturist with the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. "The three to five inches of rain that fell in early September were right on time for pecans," said Crocker. Between early September and October, pecans enter a growing stage known as nut fill, when the edible part of the nut fills the hull. The rain will help the nut mature and improve the quality for harvest, he added. However, the rain does increase the risk of late-season sc~b, a fungus that can severely reduce the quantity and quality of yields, said Tim Brenneman, a UGA plant pathology researcher at the Coastal Plain Experiment Station in Tifton. But damage due to scab would be minimal this late in the season, he said. "We also could have some scab carry over to next season," Brenneman said. With the third straight year of drought, the $100 million state pecan crop has had to depend greatly ofi irrigation. About two-thirds of the state orchards are irrigated. as high as $350." "The increased fees will be used to upgrade salaries for inspectors and hire more where needed. We need to make their salaries comparable to those in other states and to technicians in the pest control industry. Our salaries are below those of other states, causing us to have an unacceptable number of turnovers," said Irvin. "We also need these funds .to improve our website to better serve those seeking information about pest control companies. We would also like for companies to be able to seek licensing via the internet. Such improvements will (Continued on Page 11) Not only was the rain beneficial, Crocker said, but the way it was delivered ag consumerIine couldn't have been .better. The steady, light showers came with little wind gusts that could damage tree limbs, knocking down the overall production and dollar value of the crop. We have enjoyed gro~ing shiitake mushrooms for several years and sharing them with our friends. Do you have any information about selling mushrooms? Our Office of Consumer Protection advises that unless you begin to sell to other than family and friends a license will not be required. However, should you desire to set up a roadside stand or sell to a retail outlet, licensing will become a Tobacco Referendum requirement. You would need to contact the Georgia Department of Agriculture for basic regulatory requirements. Deadline Nears What is foodbome illness? *** Tobacco growers are reminded th~t Oct. 14, 2000 is the deadline for voting on the continuation of the Georgia Tobacco Commission. The Tobacco Commission plays an important role in the research, promotion, and extension education for Georgia tobacco. "Our growers are facing one of the most critical times in the history of fluecured tobacco," said Lawton V. Matthews, chaimian of the Georgia Because foodborne illness often presents itself as flu-like symptoms such as . cnaauusseeda'bvyobmaictitnegri'adoiarrorhtheear' or fever, many people may not recognize the illness is pathogens in food. Thousands of types of bacteria are naturally present in our environment. Not all bacteria cause disease in humans. For example, some bacteria are used beneficially in making cheese ~d yogurt. Bacteria that cause disease are called pathogens. When certam pathogens enter the food supply, they can cause foodborne illness. Millions of cases of foodborne illness occur each year. Most cases of foodborne illness can be prevented. Proper cooking or processing of food destroys bacteria. . . Jfyou have problems or questions about products or services regulate_d by the G~o~gia Department ofAgriculture, write: Consumer Services, Room 224, Agriculture Building, 19 M.L. King Jr. Dr., Atlanta, Georgia 30334-4201, or call toll-free, 1-800-282-5852 (Continued on Page 12) (statewide), or in metro Atlanta, 404-656-3645. Page 2 THE MARKET BULLETIN Wednesday October 4, 2000 Farmers & Consumers Market Bulletin Advertising Guidelines Horse hauling, local & adjoining states, reliable, dependable service, new equipment, quality care at a reasonable rate. Rob Roknick Gillsville 770-536-6999 Wood-mizer portable sawmill, 11 yrs. exp., will come to your property & saw logs into top qlty. lumber for barn, log homes, siding, beams, framing, etc. John Adams Ellijay 706- Young age professional seeking position with responsibilities animal production. specialist, Bilingual Spanish and English, may consider moving. Rafael Fuentes Atlanta Horses hauled anywhere in Ga. or other 265-S147 404-37S-7S61 All Advertisements published in the Market Bulletin Friday, or write: Market Bulletin, Georgia states, reas. rates; also, have tractor for Woodmizer custom sawmill service, will must relate to the farming/agricultural industry or be a part thereof; any and all item(s) submitted for sale through the BULLETIN must meet at least one of the following criteria: 1) must be produced by the advertiser on his/her own farming operation, 2) must Department of Agriculture, 19 MLK Jr. Drive, Atlanta, GA 30334-4250 Ads will be published only once each time submitted unless the advertiser specifies in writing on the notice that the ad is to be published more bushhogging in Dallas and surrounding areas. Larry Boatright Dallas 770-445-S507 sinHceor7se5s,hsooeminegS, aret.liaabplpet,. parroemapvta,ilqaubaleli,tySwocoirakl Circle Ga., please Ive. message. Bob Bond -Social Circle 770-464-4353 saw your logs at your place, quality professional work, sawn to you specs w/Woodmizer Super mill. M. Mohler Dawsonville 706-216-S747 Farm Services Wanted FARM MACHINERY Ifyou have questions regarding this category, call Brenda Donnell at 404-651-9081. be made by the advertiser from materials on his/her own farming operation, 3) must be owned and used by the advertiser on his/her own farming operation for a period of at least 90 days prior to offering for sale through the BULLETIN. Businesses, corporations, dealerships or other commercial enterprises are not allowed to advertise in the MARKET BULLETIN. Commercial is defined as intended for mass market; handling large quantities of product for distribution (i.e., more than normal household or farm quanttties); supported by advertisement (i.e., advertisement in publications other than the BULLETIN; listed as "business" in telephone directories or"yellow pages", etc.). Other indicators include, but are not limlted to, holding business licenses and holding regulatory licenses/permits/registrations. : The editor has the authority to designate the length of ads and the number of ads that may be placed by a family unit in any issue of the BULLETIN. Currently,onlyone(1)notice may beplaced byany family unit in any issue of the BULLETIN. Family unit refers to all individuals sharing the same residence, address or telephone number. Each notice submitted for publication must be in writing, legible, on a single sheet of paper separate from any other notice, and be accompanied by the name of the category and the name, mailing and street address(es) and telephone than one week. Ads may be published consecutively up t