GA Ag 2008 Forecast
All this week Ag 2008 Forecast breakfasts have been held across Georgia, as pictured here is the large crowd at the event held this morning in Tifton. Those attending got a chance to learn more about the various issues that will affect Georgia agriculture this year, and one of those is the drought. I talked with Dr. David Stooksbury, State Climatologist with the University of Georgia, as he comments on where we are and what to expect for the rest of the year. 
Report (4:45 mp3)
More information will be coming out next week at the Cattle Industry Convention, but some have already heard and have seen the new beef ads. 
As the Florida Beef Council continues it’s work for producers across the state, they welcome two new members which pleases the FBC Chairman. 
In this week’s Florida Department of Citrus features, the Joint Legislative Sunset Committee meets in Winter Haven, and Southeast AgNet’s Ernie Neff has a brief overview in the first report. Also in both reports, our end-of-the-week features on Citrus Department marketing programs.
One speaker at the Georgia Cotton Conference today was U.S. Representative Jack Kingston of Georgia. Afterwards he talked with me about a few topics concerning agriculture, with one of course being the farm bill. 
These two reports will wrap up our series this week with Dr Harold Browning, Center Director at UF’s Citrus Research and Education Center at Lake Alfred, about the latest he can report about citrus greening research now underway. In the final report in particular, Browning offers a timely and strong suggestion for growers who may not be taking citrus greening disease as seriously as they should be. 
The Georgia Cotton Quality Awards dinner was a part of the Georgia Cotton Conference in Tifton. I talked with both UGA’s Don Shurley and Jake Ford, with Bayer Crop Science about the event. 
USDA’s 
The President of the Georgia Cattlemen’s Association, Evans Hooks, said they are looking forward to attending the Cattle Industry Convention & Trade Show in Reno, Neveda next week. 
Florida is looking for a peanut grower to represent them on the National Peanut Board, as Tyron Spearman has the details. 
Cellulosic ethanol will be used for the first time in motor sports this year during the American Le Mans Series Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring in Florida on March 15.
The Georgia Cotton Commission held its first ever annual meeting this week in conjunction with a new all-inclusive cotton production conference. GCC chairman Louie Perry of Moultrie says one of their concerns right now is getting new talent for the University of Georiga cotton team.
The Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance wants to see the House and Senate farm bills reconciled to get a bill friendly to specialty crops signed by the president instead of reverting to old law or extending the current bill.
The Director of the Florida office of the National Ag Statistics Service is urging producers to return their census forms this week if they haven’t done so yet. 
Former North Dakota governor Ed Schafer was confirmed as the 29th Secretary of Agriculture on Monday, took his place at the State of the Union address as a member of the president’s cabinet and spent his first day on the job Tuesday meeting with Bush on the farm bill.
Everett Griner explains why it is too early to cheer because of the showers in the southeast.
