GA Agribusiness Council Atlanta Mtgs Draw Ag & Political Leaders
This week’s Annual Meeting and Legislative Breakfast 
events hosted by the Georgia Agribusiness Council in Atlanta drew a good crowd of the state’s agriculture leaders, 
numerous lawmakers and legislative staffers. One of the big news items of the day is the announcement by GA Governor Sonny Perdue that some of the watering restrictions in Georgia will be relaxed, 
for now anyway, to help support the nursery industry and efforts by the public to establish new plantings of trees and shrubs. Governor Perdue also is set to sign a new state water bill today that Georgia agriculture industry leaders have been very involved in helping to develop. In the reports posted herein, hear 
Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue’s comments to the media (mp3)right after he spoke to the GAC breakfast this morning. Also hear 
comments from Georgia Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Association Exec Charles Hall (mp3) 
including an update about a referendum deadline coming up for GA Vegetable producers to vote on a new marketing order; Georgia Farm Bureau President Vincent ‘Zippy’ Duvall comments (mp3) on the water bill and other present concerns for Georgia agriculture; and GA Agriculture Commissioner Tommy Irvin also offers comments (mp3) for our listeners, speaking to us just before the GAC breakfast this morning. Also to see who’s in these photos, just place your cursor over each photo and the cut line will appear.
We enjoyed our visits among the attendees and 
exhibitors at the 38th annual Georgia Young Farmers Association (GYFA) convention in Savannah this week.
who discusses the GYFA program and history;
Development Authority, discussing the availability of money for Georgia farmers right now.
At the 30th anniversary of the Sunbelt Ag Expo this week in Moultrie, Ga. those exhibitors who have been with the show since the beginning were recognized. 
The 30th Anniversary of the Sunbelt Ag Expo is now history, as Tyron Spearman caught up with Expo Director Chip Blalock to look back at how things went during the 3-day event this year. 
Monsanto brought it’s new Mobile Technology Unit to the Sunbelt Ag Expo this year, which is a unique showcase of science and innovation. On board visitors can learn more about the latest in seed breeding technology and new product development.
I had a chance to take the tour and afterwards talk with Monsanto’s Kathy Sehnert about the Mobile Unit and it’s overall purpose.
While the drought continues to be on many minds here in the Southeast, water is needed for our crops. And that’s where Valley Irrigation can help as new technologies can manage watering needs for most any type of field. I talked with Will Sheets about how Valley can help with your operation. 
The Georgia Propane Gas Association building is another place many people stop by to see the latest in propane innovations. I talked with Mark Dmochowski about some of those and how they could be incorporated on the farm.
Also this morning, our Southeast AgNet affiliate in Moultrie, WMTM, was here to do a live broadcast letting listeners across Southwest Georgia know about the many ways propane can help them everyday. Pictured is Jenni McKeen with the Ga Propane Gas Association, Jim Turner & Jay Ussery with Cruisin’ 94 FM.
Trimble Agriculture is at Sunbelt Ag Expo again this year with information about what they have to offer, and that includes RTK technology. I talked with Josh Pitts & Brian Kelley with Ag Technologies L.L.C. about how this can work for you. 
The farmers of the year in the Southeast Agnet listening area were Billy Gilley from Holly Pond, Alabama; Bud Adams, Jr. from Ft. Pierce, Florida and Daniel Johnson from Alma, Georgia. They are pictured here with the winner from Arkansas, Michael Simon. This was the first time Arkansas was part of the Swisher Sweets/Sunbelt Expo Southeastern Farmer of the Year competition.
Ag Commissioners from 4 states were at Sunbelt Ag Expo this afternoon for what has turned out to be a fun event…..milking cows. 
When it was all over, the winner as you can see by the photo was Tennessee’s Ken Givens, whose background of being raised on a dairy farm was obvious. It took two measuring tubes for Givens milking effort, while Sparks came in 2nd, Irvin 3rd, and Bronson 4th in an event to promote the dairy industry.
When it comes to the Sunbelt Ag Expo, Tyron Spearman says there are peanuts and lots more at this years event. 
For the 30th time the Sunbelt Ag Expo opened today in Moultrie, Ga with exhibits for the entire family. Gina McDonald says this includes some new things to see and learn about in the livestock section of the Expo. 
The 3oth annual Sunbelt Agricultural Exposition opens in Moultrie, Ga. and Tyron Spearman runs down some of the events planned for today. 
The Sunbelt Ag Expo in Moultrie, Ga is a great setting for the Georgia Beef Board to talk with producers from across the state about how the beef checkoff is working for them. 
Ag Commissioners from 4 states will compete in a cow-milking contest at this years Sunbelt Ag Expo in Moultrie, Ga. This includes Charles Bronson from Florida who says he’s looking forward to the event. 
The 29th Annual Sunbelt Ag Expo officially wrapped up this afternoon and Tyron Spearman caught up with Sunbelt Executive Director Chip Blalock who looked back at the 3-day event. 
There has been plenty to see in the field and crop demonstrations at the Sunbelt Ag Expo in Moultrie, Ga. Attendees this year were able to even take part in some ride and drive exhibits which hilighted some of the new precision technology now available. The Sunbelt Ag Expo officially closes at 4:00 this afternoon.
Something new this year at the Sunbelt Ag Expo is the new building for the University of Florida. Inside you’ll find informational booths about a variety of programs offered through the school. And of course, plenty of Gator fans at the Expo stopped in to see the latest information.
