Author Archives: John Holcomb

Feral Hogs Cost Georgia Farmers $150 Million a Year — and Populations Are Still Growing

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Social Circle, GA |

They cause an estimated $150 million in damage to Georgia agriculture every year — destroying crops, tearing up land, and wrecking equipment. And despite ongoing control efforts, feral hogs aren’t going anywhere. If anything, their populations are growing.

“Feral hogs cause a tremendous amount of damage, especially for agricultural producers. They destroy row crops, root up the ground, and can cause damage to equipment — it’s an ongoing, perpetual problem that we’ve had for really centuries,” said Charlie Killmaster, Wildlife Biologist with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. “They reproduce especially well. They can drop multiple litters a year with a lot of young in each litter, and those young have a really high survival rate. That reproduction outpaces the harvest in a lot of cases.”

PROGRAMS AND RESOURCES

Because of that, feral hogs remain a top priority for agricultural and wildlife departments across the state — and collaborative efforts are expanding to give growers more tools to fight back.

“For years, we’ve been actively working on removing regulations and restrictions on hunting and controlling feral hogs,” Killmaster said. “We’re also running the Hogs Down Awards program, where we’re giving away highly efficient hog traps to people who are actively out there controlling hogs on a quarterly basis. And we’re offering technical guidance through various workshops to teach people how to effectively trap and remove feral hogs.”

NEW LEGISLATION CUTS RED TAPE

State legislators have also taken notice, with recently passed legislation making it easier to control feral hog populations on private lands.

“House Bill 946 legalizes the use of drones for searching for feral hogs to aid control efforts, which will help us gain some efficiency there,” Killmaster said. “It also legalizes hunting from a vehicle on private property and on private roads — not from a public road. That was previously allowed through a permit, but this removes that permit requirement. It also clarifies the licensing requirements, making clear that you do not need a hunting or trapping license in order to trap feral hogs.”

ACT NOW, BEFORE THE SEASON TURNS

With seeds already in the ground for some of the most vulnerable crops — including peanuts and corn — growers should be on high alert for feral hog activity. But according to Killmaster, the best time to address the problem has already passed, which means getting ahead of it before next winter is critical.

“It’s best to do it in the dead of winter when there’s not a lot of natural food out there. They respond really well to bait in the trap, and that’s the time to get to them,” Killmaster said. “Once there’s spring green up and crops growing, they are really hard to bait and get coming into a trap.”

For Georgia’s agricultural producers, staying proactive — through trapping, reporting, and taking advantage of new programs and legal tools — remains the most effective defense against one of the state’s most persistent and costly invasive species.

By: Damon Jones

Late Frost and Rising Costs Put Pike County Peach Crop on Shorter Season

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Concord, GA |

At Gregg Farms in Pike County, this year’s peach crop is shaping up to look a little different. A warmer-than-normal winter followed by a late frost has left producers adjusting expectations, with a shorter crop translating into a shorter season for customers.

“This year is going to be a little shorter. It got warm earlier, and we had a late frost about a week before Easter — and since all the peaches were bloomed, it got a lot of them,” said Stuart Gregg of Gregg Farms. “We’ll still have a crop this year. It’ll just be a little bit shorter. We might not be open every day or have you-pick every day, but we’ll have something throughout the summer. It just won’t be like other seasons when you have a bumper crop.”

NOT ALL VARIETIES WERE HIT

While the late frost caused significant damage, Gregg says the timing spared some later-blooming varieties, softening what could have been a total loss for certain parts of the orchard.

“I’d say about fifty percent of the peaches got damaged. A lot of the early peaches are at a loss, but the others just kind of got thinned out — so we’re not having to do as much thinning this year due to that frost,” Gregg said. “We’ll just be a little bit later opening, because most of the early peaches were in full bloom while some of the others weren’t all the way bloomed yet.”

COLD WEATHER: A DOUBLE-EDGED SWORD

According to Gregg, timing is everything when it comes to cold weather and peach trees. The trees require a certain number of chill hours while dormant — but once they bloom, even a brief freeze can quickly turn a promising crop into a challenging season.

“Cold weather is good and bad for peach trees. After the trees go dormant, they have to have over a thousand chill hours — anything below forty degrees,” Gregg explained. “This year was a little different because it was a warmer winter, so we didn’t get our chill hours until way later. Since we were still able to get them, it really didn’t affect the trees. But then it finally got warm, everything started blooming, and we had that late frost. Once the peaches are open, they’re real susceptible to cold — and that’s what happened.”

DROUGHT A CONCERN, BUT NOT YET CRITICAL

Beyond the frost, dry conditions across the state have added another layer of uncertainty for peach growers. For now, Gregg says their trees haven’t been significantly impacted — but he’s watching the forecast closely.

“It’s still early. The peaches are still growing, and there’s still a little bit of water in the ground. We just had a rain, so that’s really helped,” Gregg said. “But if we were to keep getting this drought, it would just be a bad year overall — peaches wouldn’t be that big. We don’t have irrigation on the peaches. We irrigate our flowers and our blueberries, but the peaches are just at the mercy of Mother Nature, like with the frost.”

RISING COSTS ADD TO THE PRESSURE

As if weather challenges weren’t enough, rising input costs are adding financial stress to an already difficult start to the season. Fuel, fertilizer, and other operating expenses have climbed sharply in recent months, squeezing margins for producers like Gregg.

“Everything costs more — fuel, fertilizer, all inputs have just increased the cost of everything,” Gregg said. “It’s going to affect the end consumer just like it affects us. Everything’s more expensive. It takes more to get things done, and you can’t skip out on stuff just because it’s a little more expensive. It’s just making it tougher and making you stretch the dollar a little bit further, trying to get everything ready for everyone to come out.”

Despite the challenges, Gregg Farms is pressing forward — and Georgia peach fans can still look forward to a season, even if it looks a little different than years past.

By: John Holcomb

Early Drought Puts Georgia Farmers in Uncharted Territory

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Madison, GA |

All across the state, dry conditions are raising concerns for farmers and producers. A lack of rainfall and expanding drought are already impacting planting decisions and crop outlooks heading into the season.

For producers like Lee Nunn, the biggest concern isn’t the drought itself — it’s how early it arrived this season.

“In droughts in previous years, none of those years that I can remember off the top of my head could we not get a crop in. We had a drought during the crop year. This year is extremely different to me — being this dry, this early. I’ve never seen it in my years of farming to be stressed about getting the crop in the ground,” said Nunn.

While drought is nothing new for Georgia growers, Nunn says even typically reliable crops are showing signs of stress. His wheat crop — one that has rarely struggled for moisture in a quarter century — is now a cause for concern.

“We’ve never really had a problem in the last twenty-five years of growing wheat of ever having a lack of moisture on a wheat crop. I look back at some rainfall data, and we’re at about fifty percent moisture since the first of last September. We’re down about fifteen inches short in that time frame,” Nunn said.

EQUIPMENT AND COSTS

The lack of moisture isn’t just impacting crop development. Nunn says the soil has become so dry and hardened that his equipment is taking a serious toll, making planting more difficult and costly than usual.

“With the lack of moisture, that subsoil machine almost just can’t go in the ground. It is so hard. The red clay we have in this part of the state comes up like bricks and chunks — super hard and very abrasive,” Nunn said. “I would say we get at least half the life of our tips and our wear points on equipment compared to what we’d get with moisture. And honestly, that’s just an expense we can’t afford to take right now.”

Those added expenses come at a time when farmers are already struggling with high input and operating costs, putting even more pressure on producers heading into planting season.

“With the input costs we have right now at all-time highs — diesel fuel, fertilizer, equipment, equipment parts — just everything is at all-time highs,” Nunn said. “Commodity prices have crept up a little bit lately, and I’m thankful for that. But we’ve got to have a crop to sell this fall. Without adequate soil moisture, we can’t till the crop in, and we can’t plant the crop. If there’s no moisture there, there’s no need planting it.”

WINDOW IS CLOSING

According to Nunn, time and conditions will play a critical role in determining the rest of the season. If things don’t change, there’s a real chance this year’s crop won’t go in the ground at all.

“We have a pretty long window with cotton — at least another month to plant, up until about the first of June in this part of the state,” Nunn said. “We don’t like to plant much past the first week of June, so we do have some time. But the longer you wait, the less yield you have, and the more problems you have with the cotton crop.”

“That’s not to say you can’t make a crop,” he added. “But the chances are a lot less that you’ll make a perfect crop — and we almost need a perfect crop for these type of situations with inputs and pricing.”

As the season progresses, Georgia producers like Nunn will be watching the forecast closely, hoping for the rain that could mean the difference between a challenging year and no crop at all.

By: John Holcomb

Fertilizer Prices Surge as Georgia Row Crop Growers Begin Planting Season

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Tifton, GA |

As planting season gets underway for Georgia’s staple row crops, growers are firing up their fertilization schedules — and facing a costly start to the season. Fertilizer prices have jumped more than twenty percent across the board, with one key nutrient being hit especially hard.

“One of the biggest challenges we have right now is that a lot of fertilizers, especially nitrogen-based fertilizers, come from the Middle East. Because we have the Strait of Hormuz closed, it’s becoming a challenge for growers because not a lot of fertilizers are getting here to the U.S. — and that’s causing prices to surge,” said Doug Amarel, an agronomist with the University of Georgia Extension.

That surge includes a fifty percent jump in nitrogen prices alone, putting cotton growers in a particularly difficult position heading into the season.

A DELICATE BALANCING ACT

“Nitrogen is one of the most important fertilizers, especially if you’re doing cotton. It can account for up to fifteen to twenty percent of production costs, so growers need to find ways to cut costs,” Amarel said. “In years like this, when you have high fertilizer prices, you need to adjust. You need to manage the ways to stay profitable — whether that’s cutting back on some fertilizers, managing different crops, different rotations, or different practices in the field.”

But cutting back too aggressively carries its own risks. Amarel says fertilizer management is one of the most consequential decisions a grower can make.

“The three most important things about growing crops are genetics, the environment — something we cannot control — and management,” he said. “And management, eighty to ninety percent of it, is about nutrient management or fertilizer management in the field. If you apply too much nitrogen and not enough potassium, or too much phosphorus without the right micronutrients, you are hurting your crop. You still need to apply enough to be profitable and to produce your crop.”

START WITH A SOIL TEST

With margins already tight, Amarel says getting the most out of every application will be critical — and that starts well before the first pass across the field.

“The most important thing I’ve been telling growers: soil test. That’s the foundation,” Amarel said. “If you don’t know what’s in your soil, there is no way to manage your fertilizers properly. You don’t know how much nitrogen, potassium, or phosphorus you need to apply. A soil test is the foundation of any nutrient management plan right now.”

DROUGHT ADDS ANOTHER LAYER

All of that planning, however, will ultimately depend on whether the historically dry conditions gripping much of the state finally come to an end. Without adequate moisture, even a well-executed fertilizer plan can fall short.

“It creates another problem, especially for growers doing dryland crops,” Amarel said. “We still need water for the crop to uptake nutrients. If there is no water, the crop cannot uptake nutrients. So you may want to go slower at the beginning of the season and adjust as you go — splitting your applications to improve nutrient use efficiency.”

For Georgia’s row crop producers, the 2026 growing season is shaping up to be a test of both patience and precision — with every input decision carrying more weight than usual.

By: Damon Jones

Leadership GFB Program Prepares Georgia Farmers for Advocacy and Leadership Roles

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Bluemont, VA |

From policy discussions in Washington, D.C., to hands-on experiences in the field, a new leadership program from the Georgia Farm Bureau is already shaping the next generation of agricultural advocates.

Recently, members traveled to both Washington and Virginia as part of the Leadership GFB program—an initiative designed to strengthen leadership skills, build confidence, and prepare participants to take a more active role in advocating for agriculture.

“Leadership GFB is a new program for members who want to increase their advocacy and leadership development skills,” said Heather King, Women’s Leadership Program Coordinator. “We’re looking for people who are already engaged and want to take that next step.”

Taking Leadership to the Next Level

For participants already involved in Farm Bureau, the program offers a deeper level of engagement—providing opportunities to grow both personally and professionally.

“We have folks who devote a lot of time and effort to Georgia Farm Bureau,” King said. “We want to give them more experiences, build a cohort they can grow with, and provide skills they can take back to their communities.”

That combination of networking and skill-building is designed to create stronger leaders—not just within the organization, but across rural Georgia.

Telling Agriculture’s Story

While leadership development is a central focus, the program also emphasizes one critical responsibility: telling the story of agriculture.

“It’s important that the people working in agriculture are the ones telling their story,” King explained. “There are a lot of voices out there talking about farming, but advocacy means sharing that firsthand perspective.”

And according to program leaders, that advocacy shouldn’t stop at the Capitol.

“We talk a lot about speaking with legislators, and that’s important,” King said. “But we also need to advocate to everyone we come in contact with about how important agriculture is.”

Stepping Outside the Comfort Zone

One of the biggest challenges—and opportunities—for participants comes when they step outside familiar agricultural circles.

“It’s easy for people in agriculture to talk to each other,” King said. “But when you’re speaking to someone who didn’t grow up on a farm, it can be intimidating.”

That’s why experiences like this trip are so valuable. By interacting with people from different backgrounds—especially in more urban settings—participants gain real-world practice in communicating agriculture’s importance.

“It puts them outside their comfort zone,” King added. “And that’s where growth happens.”

Preparing for the Future

As agriculture continues to evolve, so does the need for strong, effective advocates who can bridge the gap between rural and urban communities.

Through programs like Leadership GFB, Georgia Farm Bureau is investing in those future leaders—equipping them with the tools, experience, and confidence needed to represent agriculture at every level.

Because in today’s landscape, telling the story of agriculture is just as important as producing it.

By: John Holcomb

Georgia Strawberry Growers See One of Their Best Seasons in Years

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Cochran, GA |

It’s been a “berry” good year for strawberry growers across Georgia, as ideal conditions and careful management have led to one of the strongest seasons in recent memory. At Greene Acres Farm in Bleckley County, the fields have been so productive that visitors have been able to pick fresh strawberries every single day for weeks.

“They’re looking good. It’s probably one of the best seasons we’ve ever had,” said Earl Greene, owner of Greene Acres Farm. “They started early and they’re going to finish strong. As long as the weather stays out of those ninety-fives, we’ll have strawberries for at least another three weeks.”

A Season Built on Tough Decisions

While the results have been impressive, the road to this year’s harvest was anything but easy. Growers faced unpredictable weather early in the season, including a late frost that forced quick action to protect their crops.

“It was tough at the beginning,” Greene said. “We had a pretty late frost in March. We had to get all our row covers back out and run overhead irrigation. It’s tough managing five or six acres all at once and making those split decisions.”

Those timely choices ultimately paid off, allowing the crop to rebound and thrive—resulting in yields that, in some cases, have exceeded expectations.

“Right now, we’re making more than we can keep up with,” Greene added. “All the strawberry farms in this area are saying the same thing.”

A Year in the Making

For farmers, the success seen today actually began months ago. Strawberry production requires long-term planning, patience, and a willingness to trust the process.

“You start preparing in August, build your beds in September, plant in October, and then you just wait,” Greene explained. “From October to April, before you see your first berries—it’s a long process. In farming, you’re always a year ahead.”

That behind-the-scenes effort is something many visitors may not fully realize, which is why education plays such a big role at agritourism farms like Greene Acres.

Teaching the Next Generation

Each day, families and school groups visit the farm—not just to pick strawberries, but to learn how food is grown. For Leigh Ann Greene, those teaching moments are just as rewarding as the harvest itself.

“You need to explain this is how it grows—it takes sunshine, water, effort, and work,” she said. “To see the lightbulb go off with the children, it’s an amazing thing.”

Beyond the fields, the farm offers even more opportunities for hands-on learning. With animals like goats, pigs, chickens, and rabbits, children can connect with agriculture in a way that goes far beyond the grocery store.

“We wanted to create a place where families can come and experience the farm,” Leigh Ann said. “It’s about learning, but also about making memories.”

More Than Just a Crop

For the Greene family, strawberries are just one part of a bigger mission—bringing people closer to agriculture and helping them understand the work that goes into every bite.

And with a season this strong, there’s plenty to celebrate.

From full fields to full buckets, Georgia’s strawberry growers are proving that with the right mix of hard work, timing, and a little help from the weather, success can be pretty sweet.

By: Damon Jones

Georgia Young Farmers Advocate for Agriculture on Capitol Hill

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Washington, D.C. |

More than two dozen members of the Georgia Farm Bureau’s Young Farmers and Ranchers program recently traveled to Washington, D.C., bringing the voice of Georgia agriculture directly to lawmakers on Capitol Hill.

The trip is a key part of the organization’s grassroots mission—ensuring that the perspectives of farmers are heard at every level of government.

“When you look at Georgia Farm Bureau, it is a grassroots organization,” said Levi Davis, Young Farmers and Ranchers Program Coordinator. “We take our members’ voices and make them heard on a state, local, and national level. That’s what we’re doing here in D.C.”

A Critical Time for Agriculture

 

The visit comes as farmers across Georgia continue to face mounting economic pressure, making direct communication with policymakers more important than ever.

“When you think about the farm economy, there’s probably never been a more important time to come to D.C.,” said Garrett Hurley, Chairman of the Young Farmers and Ranchers program. “We need to let legislators know how tough things are back home and hopefully get some support to help Georgia farmers stay sustainable.”

With discussions around the next farm bill underway, the timing of the trip provided a valuable opportunity for producers to weigh in on policies that directly impact their operations.

The Power of Personal Stories

 

While advocacy efforts happen year-round, leaders say nothing compares to hearing directly from the farmers themselves.

“Hearing it straight from their mouths to lawmakers’ ears has the biggest impact,” said Ben Parker, National Affairs Coordinator. “It means more when it comes from someone whose livelihood depends on agriculture being profitable.”

Those firsthand accounts help bridge the gap between policy decisions in Washington and the real-world challenges farmers face—such as rising input costs, regulatory pressures, and market uncertainty.

Taking a Seat at the Table

 

For many participants, the goal of the trip is simple: make sure agriculture is represented when decisions are being made.

“It’s about sitting down with lawmakers and letting them know we exist,” Hurley said. “If we don’t take that seat at the table, someone else will—and they may not tell the true story of Georgia agriculture.”

By sharing their experiences, these young producers hope to ensure that policies reflect the realities of farming today.

Looking Ahead

 

As the next generation of agricultural leaders, the Young Farmers and Ranchers participants understand the importance of staying engaged—not just on the farm, but in the policymaking process as well.

Their message to lawmakers is clear: supporting agriculture isn’t just about helping farmers—it’s about protecting a vital industry that feeds and fuels the nation.

And for those who made the trip, it’s a responsibility they take seriously—one conversation at a time.

By: John Holcomb

Vidalia Onion Growers Overcome Dry Conditions to Deliver High-Quality Crop

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Lyons, GA |

Grown in just a small region of South Georgia, Vidalia onions continue to have an outsized impact on the state’s economy—bringing in more than $150 million annually. But for growers this season, producing that iconic sweet onion hasn’t come without its challenges.

“This year, our yields are off,” said Brett McLain of McLain Farms. “We don’t have any moisture down deep. We can irrigate the top, but we can’t get it where it really needs to be. Maybe it’s that, maybe it’s the extreme cold we had—but for whatever reason, yields are down. The quality, though, is really nice.”

Dry Conditions Limit Growth

 

A lack of rainfall during the growing season created one of the biggest hurdles for producers, particularly at a time when onions rely on consistent moisture to size up properly.

“When you don’t get rain in the spring, it can affect the size,” said Chris Tyson, Extension Onion Agent with the University of Georgia. “That’s what we’re seeing this year—onions that may not be quite as big as normal.”

Despite smaller sizing, growers say the crop still meets the high standards consumers expect when it comes to flavor and overall quality.

A Unique Georgia Crop

 

To carry the Vidalia name, onions must be grown in a specific 20-county region of South Georgia, where soil and climate conditions combine to create their signature sweetness.

“We have this sandy loam, low-sulfur soil that helps produce those super sweet onions,” said Jason Enfinger, Toombs County Extension Agent. “We’re able to manage nutrients and irrigation in a way that gives us that true Vidalia flavor.”

That distinct combination is what sets Vidalia onions apart from any other onion grown in the country.

A Family Legacy in Every Harvest

 

At McLain Farms, growing Vidalia onions is more than just a business—it’s a family tradition. From planting and harvesting to packing and shipping, multiple generations are involved in the process.

“The family part is everything to me,” McLain said. “You see a lot of farms where the next generation isn’t there. But for us, that’s what makes this special—knowing the future is in place.”

That pride is reflected in every box of onions that leaves the farm, many of which include personal touches representing each member of the family.

“It’s so much more than just an onion to us,” said Jess McLain. “It’s the legacy of who we are, where we come from, and where we’re going. When people see our name on those boxes, they’re getting a piece of our family.”

Looking Ahead

 

While this year’s crop may be smaller in size, its quality and the story behind it remain as strong as ever. For Georgia growers, adapting to challenges like drought and temperature swings is part of the job—but so is preserving the traditions that make Vidalia onions a staple across the country.

As the industry looks to the future, one thing remains clear: it’s not just about growing onions—it’s about growing a legacy.

By: Damon Jones

Georgia Farmers Meet with USDA Leadership to Address Industry Challenges

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McDonough, GA |

With profitability challenges continuing to weigh heavily on agriculture, Georgia farmers recently had a rare opportunity to speak directly with federal leadership. USDA Deputy Secretary Stephen Vaden visited the state for a Georgia Farm Bureau event, giving producers the chance to share their concerns face-to-face.

“It’s important so there’s not a disconnect,” said Ben Parker, National Affairs Coordinator with Georgia Farm Bureau. “The deputy secretary can come down here and hear directly from our producers—what they’re facing day-to-day and what it takes to provide food, fiber, and fuel. It cuts out the middleman.”

Real Conversations, Real Challenges

 

Farmers from across the state made it a priority to attend, bringing perspectives from a wide range of commodities and regions. For many, the value of the visit was simple—being heard.

“These are not theories,” said Georgia Farm Bureau President Tom McCall. “These are actual farmers sitting down and telling him the state of the farm economy.”

Those conversations centered on some of the most pressing issues in agriculture today, including rising input costs, tight margins, and ongoing labor challenges.

A Firsthand Look at Georgia Agriculture

 

During his visit, Vaden also toured Southern Belle Farm, giving him an up-close look at the work being done by producers across the state.

“It’s always great to showcase what we do,” said Jake Carter, owner-operator of Southern Belle Farm. “To have someone come from Washington, D.C., and see it firsthand—and hear directly from producers—is really meaningful.”

That firsthand experience helps bridge the gap between policy and practice, giving decision-makers a clearer understanding of how regulations impact operations on the ground.

Highlighting Progress—and Ongoing Needs

 

While farmers used the opportunity to voice concerns, they also expressed appreciation for recent USDA efforts, particularly around labor reform and financial assistance programs.

“One of the biggest issues is labor, especially H-2A,” Carter said. “There was a lot of appreciation for the changes made to the rule and wages. It’s a real benefit, even if it’s just a step in the right direction.”

Still, producers made it clear that more work is needed to ensure long-term stability across the industry.

Agriculture as a National Priority

 

Even without formal remarks from the deputy secretary, his presence sent a strong signal about the importance of agriculture at both the state and national levels.

“It’s encouraging that he’s interested in what’s going on in the largest industry in this state,” McCall said. “Keeping farms profitable is critical—and it’s a national security issue.”

That sentiment was echoed by many at the event, who stressed the broader implications of a struggling farm economy.

“Food security is truly a national security issue,” Parker added. “For them to come hear directly from our growers—it shows they’re concerned and looking out for the future of American agriculture.”

Looking Ahead

 

As challenges continue to mount, events like this serve as a critical link between farmers and policymakers. By fostering direct communication and understanding, producers hope their voices will help shape decisions that support the long-term success of agriculture.

Because for Georgia farmers, the stakes go far beyond the field—they impact communities, economies, and the nation as a whole.

By: Damon Jones

Georgia Pecan Growers Reflect on Tough Season, Look Ahead to Stronger Markets

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Perry, GA |

Pecan growers from across Georgia recently gathered in Perry for the sixty-first annual Georgia Pecan Growers Association Conference and Trade Show—an event designed to bring the industry together for education, innovation, and connection.

“This gives an opportunity for growers to come together, see how the season was last year, and look ahead to what’s coming,” said Mary Mikelyn Bruorton, Executive Director of the Georgia Pecan Growers Association. “It’s also a chance to see new equipment and really connect with one another—something they don’t always get to do.”

A Tough Year in the Orchard

 

While the event focused on progress and planning for the future, it also came on the heels of a difficult growing season that tested producers across the state.

“2025 ended up being very challenging,” said Andrew Sawyer, Southeast Area Pecan Agent with the University of Georgia. “We had a hopeful crop early on, but then environmental factors took over. We saw heavy scab pressure, followed by drought starting in mid-August that lasted into the fall.”

Those conditions proved devastating for many growers—especially in areas still recovering from the impacts of previous storms.

“In East Georgia, particularly along the hurricane corridor, we dropped to as low as fifteen percent of what would have been a good crop,” Sawyer added.

Finding Optimism in Demand

 

Despite those setbacks, there are encouraging signs for the industry—particularly when it comes to consumer demand. Industry leaders are working to expand how pecans are marketed and consumed beyond traditional uses.

“What we’re seeing right now is growing demand for pecans—not just as a holiday nut,” said Serena Schaffner, Chief Marketing Officer for the American Pecan Council. “We want people to pick them up every day, whether it’s for their nutritional benefits or as a snack.”

Efforts are underway to highlight pecans as a year-round product, emphasizing benefits like heart health and exploring new areas such as skin health.

Global Markets Driving Opportunity

 

As demand increases, global markets are also playing a larger role in shaping the industry’s future. Increased exports are helping create new opportunities while also influencing domestic pricing.

“If we can grow them, exports can create competition in international markets,” Schaffner said. “That tightens supply here at home, which can help drive prices up and create more stability for growers.”

Countries like the United Kingdom, Germany, and India are becoming key players in expanding the reach of Georgia-grown pecans.

Looking Toward the Future

 

For growers, the conference serves as both a reflection point and a planning tool—offering insights, technology, and strategies to navigate an increasingly unpredictable environment.

After a season marked by weather challenges and reduced yields, the path forward won’t be easy. But with growing demand and expanding markets, there’s reason for cautious optimism.

As the industry adapts, events like this remain critical—helping ensure Georgia’s pecan growers are equipped to meet both the challenges and opportunities ahead.

By: John Holcomb