Author Archives: John Holcomb

Dairy Experts Urge Focus on Quality Amidst Ongoing Industry Challenges

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Savannah, GA |

Dairymen from across the Southeast recently convened in Savannah for the annual Georgia Dairy Conference — a yearly tradition that fosters community while providing producers with the tools and insight needed to enhance profitability on their operations.

“This is not a research conference,” said Paul Johnson, Program Chairman of the Georgia Dairy Conference. “This is a conference designed to help dairy farmers in the Southeast, as well as Georgia, become more profitable and sustain their business during these downturn in economic times. We’re trying to encourage self-motivation for farmers to identify their problems, recognize their challenges, and seek and implement solutions.”

Milk Quality Takes Center Stage

This year’s event placed a major emphasis on milk quality — a topic that’s becoming increasingly vital for both producer success and consumer trust. According to Dr. Andy Johnson, a longtime dairy consultant and speaker at the conference, achieving high-quality milk is well within reach for every operation.

“Every dairyman is capable of having quality milk. If they’re not, it’s because they’ve decided not to be there,” said Dr. Johnson. “The changes I’ve seen here the last 25 years have been phenomenal. Now, having dairies under a hundred thousand cell count is common, where it used to be unheard of. So my message was: you can do it if you make the decision you want to do it.”

Beyond farm operations, Johnson emphasized that product quality has broader implications, particularly when it comes to market competition.

“The better your quality, the consumers have more confidence in our products and buy more products,” he said. “Consumers have a choice. They can buy Coke, they can buy whatever. But they need to have the confidence that when they buy a gallon of milk or a quart of milk, they’re buying a quality product.”

Milk Demand Still Declining

Despite improvements in quality, the industry faces a sobering reality — fewer people are buying milk. Calvin Covington, a dairy industry consultant, addressed the ongoing decline in fluid milk consumption, especially in Georgia and the Southeast, where fluid milk is the primary market channel.

“Demand for fluid milk… continues to be a challenge,” said Covington. “Unfortunately, both per capita consumption, as well as total milk demand, keeps declining.”

That demand problem is compounded by increased production across the country — a mismatch that is pushing prices paid to producers even lower.

“For the last year, milk production throughout the country has just taken off,” he said. “We’ve got more dairy cows in the country… the highest number we’ve had since the early 90s. So we’re producing a lot of milk. Milk production now — the supply is exceeding demand.”

Producers Brace for Lower Prices in 2026

With production outpacing consumption, Covington said producers should prepare for a drop in prices this year.

“Unless something drastically changes, my current forecast here for milk prices in Georgia and throughout the Southeast is about a dollar seventy-five to two dollars per hundredweight lower in 2026 over 2025,” he said.

As the industry faces challenges on multiple fronts — from consumer behavior to oversupply — this year’s Georgia Dairy Conference underscored the importance of both strategic decision-making and continued commitment to quality.

By: John Holcomb

Georgia Lawmakers Push Timber Tax Reform to Support Family Forest Landowners

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Atlanta, GA |

With over 23 million acres of commercial timberland, Georgia leads the nation in forestry production. But despite that ranking, the industry is facing mounting pressure from market disruptions and increasing financial strain — prompting legislative action at the state level.

House Resolution 1000, introduced this session, proposes eliminating Georgia’s timber harvest tax for landowners who replant and maintain their timberland under conservation status, such as CUVA (Conservation Use Value Assessment).

“Right now, there’s a timber tax that’s charged to timber farmers at the time of harvest and that’s collected purely for local purposes,” said Georgia House Majority Leader Chuck Efstration. “But it will then allow the local government that is relying on that revenue from timber tax to actually receive funds from the state… as long as the timber farmer’s replanting and the land’s in conservation.”

The resolution comes at a time when Georgia is already seeing a concerning decline in family farms. That trend, combined with increased land pressure from private investment groups, has lawmakers seeking ways to keep timberland in the hands of families who’ve worked it for generations.

“I’m really concerned about family farmers — individuals who want to keep land in the family,” said Efstration. “There are private equity and other folks out there trying to buy up land right now. My interest was ensuring that timber producers who are just trying to replant and make it through this very difficult time will be able to make ends meet.”

The proposed legislation aims to strike a balance — supporting struggling landowners while also protecting the local communities that depend on the timber tax revenue. Under the resolution, the state would offset the lost revenue for counties, cities, and school systems.

“Any way we can recognize that and keep that in mind here at the state capitol is something I want to do,” Efstration said. “These measures are an appropriate way to help family timber farmers who are going through great difficulty right now — without hurting the communities that have reasonably relied on this revenue in the past.”

Getting the resolution passed won’t be simple. In order to make it onto the ballot this November, the measure must gain two-thirds support in both chambers of the legislature. Still, momentum appears to be building.

“It’s gotten a lot of support up here,” Efstration said. “Even local governments understand this is really a crisis moment. Help is needed. This is a meaningful solution — as long as we can ensure that locals are made whole and that they’re not going to have a gap in their budget.”

He also noted that the effort is gaining bipartisan support. “Ultimately, it has to pass bipartisan. You have to have two-thirds votes in both the House and the Senate… I’m the Republican leader in the State House, but there are also Democrat members that have signed.”

By: Damon Jones

Georgia Lawmakers Set Sights on Ag Policy as 2026 Legislative Session Gets Underway

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Atlanta, GA |

The 2026 Georgia legislative session is officially underway, and as lawmakers work through the final year of the biennium, agriculture remains a major focus. According to Adam Belflower, State Affairs Manager for Georgia Farm Bureau, last year brought several key wins for the state’s largest industry — and momentum is high to continue that progress.

“I would say 2025 was a very successful year for agriculture here at the Capitol in Atlanta,” said Belflower. “We had a lot of really important issues that were championed by folks here in the General Assembly that we got to celebrate crossing the finish line. We got to see Hurricane Helene relief for farmers and landowners across southeast Georgia. We saw a historic tort reform effort, led by Governor Kemp. There were some really important investments in the budget to help equip our farmers all across the state with the resources they need. There was the truck weights legislation last year. Last year was just a really good year.”

But with rising input costs, falling commodity prices, and lingering storm recovery efforts still top of mind, Belflower says 2026 will need to address one core issue: affordability.

“One of the issues that legislators are hearing a lot from their constituents back home is just the idea of affordability,” he said. “How do we decrease the cost of doing business? How do we decrease the cost of living? And just all in all, make the quality of life better for Georgians by making things a little bit more affordable. And I would say it’s no different for us.”

He points to the recent natural disasters like Hurricane Helene, coupled with economic pressure, as key drivers of the state’s strained farm economy.

“We have had some of the biggest natural disasters in our state’s history the past couple of years,” said Belflower. “Coupled with record high input prices and record low commodity prices — that equation doesn’t make for a very profitable farm economy. So we’re working with the General Assembly to find policies that are going to bring some relief to farmers, strengthen commodity markets, and overall make the farm economy more stable.”

Equally important, he says, is serving as a trusted guide for legislators navigating complex ag policy proposals.

“We want to come up here and be a trusted resource to them,” he explained. “As they’re proposing policy, we’re helping them think through what might be the consequences — both intended and unintended. Oftentimes, we will see unintended consequences of legislation that could have a pretty negative impact on our farm families and on our farmers. So we come up here really with that mindset.”

By: John Holcomb

Forecast Meeting Outlines Uncertain Future for Georgia Agriculture

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Tifton, GA |

In an effort to equip the agricultural community with insights and data heading into a new year, leaders from across Georgia recently gathered in Tifton for the annual Georgia Ag Forecast Meeting. Hosted by the University of Georgia, the event brought together producers, policymakers, lenders, and researchers to discuss the challenges and opportunities farmers are likely to face in 2026.

“The reason we like to do this is to bring together producers, legislators, lenders, people from the community to really give them a picture about what’s going on in agriculture,” said Nick Place, Dean of the University of Georgia College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences. “And also, to give some projections about what we see into the future. It’s important that we give them information they need so they can make wise and the best decisions in regard to increasing agriculture production and minimizing those costs.”

That information will be vital as producers attempt to climb out of the economic hole created by volatile market conditions. While numbers from 2025 show an increase in net farm income, those figures can be misleading due to the nature of what’s included.

“In 2025, we saw a big increase in government payments. We also saw an increase in livestock receipts. So, the net farm income numbers went up,” said Ford Ramsey, Agricultural Economist at UGA. “But that’s hiding the situation that we’re seeing in most of the crop markets, which is a pretty significant cost-price squeeze.”

That squeeze is expected to continue into 2026, with lingering concerns around trade and livestock disease presenting potential threats to producers’ profitability.

“I think the main uncertainty in 2026 is going to be primarily related to international trade,” said Ramsey. “If we have any major disruptions, that could certainly affect some major commodities in Georgia. Poultry would be one. Cotton would be another. Also, livestock disease… If those start to spread, that could have a big impact.”

But it’s not all about economics. Another major theme at the meeting was improving the public’s understanding of agriculture and the role it plays in their daily lives.

“We have to do a better job of telling the story of agriculture, where food comes from,” said Place. “There are so many people that take that for granted and do not really understand everything that it takes to get something from the animal or the plant onto the table. We need to do a better job of telling that story.”

By: Damon Jones

Farmer Bridge Assistance Program Explained | Georgia Crop Losses & Relief Timeline

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Macon, GA |

After a year marked by record losses across Georgia’s agriculture sector, a much-needed lifeline is on the way for producers. The recently approved Farmer Bridge Assistance Program, part of a $12 billion relief effort, is designed to help farmers cover critical short-term costs following yet another challenging growing season.

“It’s a holdover until we can get some more meaningful things in place,” said Ben Parker, National Affairs Coordinator with Georgia Farm Bureau. “Whether that’s higher commodity prices or lower inputs or more favorable trade deals, this is just what the administration could do immediately.”

The relief will come in the form of a one-time payment, with rates calculated based on the disparity between commodity prices and production costs. And for growers of two of Georgia’s most prominent crops—cotton and peanuts—the assistance couldn’t come at a better time.

“Those that were really struggling last year and the year before… with the cotton crop are going to look to sure up,” said Parker. “And those that struggled almost as much with peanuts—they should be looking at a decent enough holdover until we get to a more favorable market condition.”

Over the last decade, the U.S. has lost nearly 10% of its farms, a decline that could accelerate without this type of assistance. Parker emphasized the program’s importance not just for survival, but for helping producers pay down pressing debt.

“Without it, I think you’d see a lot of people with last year being their last year of farming,” he said. “This is really not going to the farmers. It’s going to go in their pocket and out of their pocket the next day—or same day—just to pay outstanding bills and shore up existing debts.”

So when can farmers expect to see those dollars? According to Parker, checks could begin arriving soon.

“Right now, rumors [point to] February,” he said. “For the covered commodities… the mechanism for that is pretty simple. It’s just whatever your payment rate is times your planted crops.”

Still, even with the $12 billion program in motion, ag leaders say it’s not enough to truly solve the financial challenges plaguing the industry.

“There’s been a good discussion about trying to bring in another bridge-type payment,” Parker explained. “It is very appreciated. Without it, we’d be $12 billion further from where we need to be. It just did not go far enough for shoring it up.”

By: Damon Jones

Georgia Peanut Farm Show 2026 Outlook | Record Acres, Tight Margins & Grower Challenges

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Tifton, GA |

Every January, peanut producers from across Georgia converge in Tifton for the annual Georgia Peanut Farm Show—a long-standing tradition that gives growers the chance to reconnect, get equipped with the latest tools and technology, and gain insights from industry leaders that could impact their upcoming season.

“It’s a good choice to come in this time of the year to gather information to help them be more profitable in this coming year,” said Rodney Dawson, Chairman of the Georgia Peanut Farm Show. “Tough times for farming. It’s in a tough situation now with market prices of so many commodities, and this just gives them a choice to come look and see the latest data so they make choices to help them on the farm.”

In addition to networking and browsing new equipment on the trade show floor, producers sat in on production seminars featuring updates from experts like Dr. Scott Monfort, Extension Peanut Agronomist with the University of Georgia. Monfort addressed the significant challenges growers faced in the previous season—particularly due to unpredictable weather.

“Weather’s caused problems now three years in a row,” said Monfort. “We had six weeks of dry, hot weather that caused blooming problems. We had to extend the maturity of these things out a little bit… to try to get as much weight as we could. And so that caused, you know, delays… But also 900,000 acres; it caused some bottlenecks getting peanuts in, so overall, I think it was a decent year.”

That record acreage—911,000 acres to be exact—may not be something growers can continue to replicate, according to Monfort. He warns that sustainability, both financial and agronomic, must be carefully considered in 2026 planning.

“You know, that’s the largest we’ve had since World War Two,” he said. “Can we sustain that? I would say probably not. Not for a long period of time. Now, can we do it one more year if we had to? Maybe. But… we’re not going to get any money for it, you know, barely above loan.”

He added that as short crop rotations increase, so too will disease pressure and input costs, further tightening profit margins.

It’s that pressure that makes the fundamentals more important than ever, said Dr. Bob Kemerait, Extension Plant Pathologist at UGA.

“My message today was, why might you thought you were doing it right last year? You invested in the fungicides and selected the varieties. You did everything you thought you should—and why didn’t it go your way?” said Kemerait. “Sometimes just the basics. It’s the timing of applications. It’s how often you spray… So my message today was, we’ve got to fight diseases. We’ve got to fight nematodes. But going into 2026, it’s more important than ever to make sure we don’t forget the basics on timing, application strategies, making sure that we’re getting the most out of what we invest in.”

By: John Holcomb

Young Georgia Farmers Find Purpose and Perspective at National Convention

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Anaheim, CA |

Palm trees and high-rises might not be the usual setting for a gathering of farmers, but for a few days in January, agriculture took center stage in Southern California. The 107th American Farm Bureau Convention welcomed members from across the country to Anaheim, where rural values and innovation shared the spotlight.

Among the highlights each year are the Young Farmers and Ranchers (YF&R) events—bringing together the next generation of agricultural leaders to network, compete, and collaborate.

“It changes everything,” said Walt Pridgen, Georgia Farm Bureau’s YF&R Achievement Award winner. “Issues that I have at home, somebody else might have that same issue. And he may have a solution that I may have never even considered a possibility. It’s always… just listening to how people solve problems and navigate the difficulties we all face in agriculture… I’ve always enjoyed having that opportunity to kind of bounce stuff off of everybody from across the country.”

That peer connection and shared experience is what many say recharges their purpose.

“You may be experiencing some struggles at home, trying to figure out why you even do this because it’s hard. It’s stressful,” said Haley Scruggs, Georgia’s YF&R Excellence in Agriculture award winner. “Then you come to an event like this, full of people who are experiencing the same struggles… and it just completely refills your spirit.”

But while the event is heavy on encouragement and community, it also includes a healthy dose of competition. Events like the Achievement Award, Excellence in Agriculture, and Discussion Meet showcase the dedication, knowledge, and preparation of young leaders.

“It’s a pretty good amount of work,” said Kylie Sizemore, Georgia’s YF&R Discussion Meet winner. “I try to get some ideas for every question and then facts to support those ideas… memorize it so I’m prepared for the discussion. Of course, I want to win… but I’m also just happy to be here and meet people.”

Scruggs echoed the sentiment, highlighting just how much work goes on behind the scenes.

“Hours and hours and hours of work went into this,” she said. “So, it’s an application process first, which is not completed overnight. It’s very extensive… And then we begin creating the presentation—making sure the pictures are correct, not too many words, all the fine details nailed down. Then hours and hours of practice.”

Though none of Georgia’s competitors walked away with a national title, the value of the experience went far beyond awards. For all of them, it was about learning to communicate agricultural issues, gaining broader perspective, and finding a shared sense of purpose.

“I think it truly shapes individuals and allows them to know how to talk to people in agriculture—whether it’s public policy or local farmers,” said Sizemore. “It really prepares us for outside discussion… It’s exciting to get other perspectives from individuals that have a different take on some of these hot button topics.”

Pridgen agreed.

“That’s agriculture, man. We’re all trying to put together a very complicated puzzle,” he said. “Being involved at this level kind of allows you to get different puzzle pieces that you might not have thought you needed. But it fits, and it works.”

By: Damon Jones

Southeast Fruit & Vegetable Growers Face Labor, Imports, and the Push for Sustainability

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Savannah, GA |

With rising costs and shifting markets, staying ahead in agriculture requires more than just good weather and fertile soil—it demands knowledge, strategy, and innovation. That’s why each year, fruit and vegetable producers from across the Southeast gather in Savannah for the Southeast Regional Fruit and Vegetable Conference, a one-stop shop for all things fresh produce.

Hosted annually in January, the event is strategically timed to give producers the tools they need heading into spring planting. It features more than a dozen commodity-specific sessions, countless vendors, and access to experts from across the country.

“This year we’ve had a big focus on technology and precision ag and how we can bring the technology to our growers to make them more efficient,” said Chris Butts, Executive Vice President of the Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association. “We’ve been thrilled to work with the University of Georgia and Grand Farm on our new project, Innovation Row. We’ve got fourteen different commodity conferences going on at the same time with leading researchers and experts. It’s information that growers can take back and put into action on their farm this spring.”

And that actionable information, Butts says, can make a real difference in growers’ bottom lines—especially now that a nearly 30% increase in guest worker wages has been rolled back, easing financial pressures for the upcoming season.

“Our work isn’t done on that front. At any point, those rules can be undone,” said Butts. “So we’re looking to solidify and codify some of the positive changes that have happened to the program by working with Congress… showing them that we can shore up the program and make it sustainable for growers in the future.”

That effort is ongoing. According to Butts, keeping the issue front and center with lawmakers is key to protecting guest worker programs and safeguarding farms throughout Georgia and beyond.

“I think the future is bright because we have seen some positive changes and we’ve seen the willingness of Congress and other decision makers to listen to our needs,” he said. “At GFVGA, we’re working with a coalition of thirty-eight organizations, including Georgia Farm Bureau, to keep that issue front and center. We’ll be back in Washington, D.C. in February, because in our mind, it is the most important issue—it has the most immediate impact on the financial well-being of our farms.”

But labor isn’t the only issue impacting growers’ profitability. Imports—especially from Mexico—are undercutting domestic prices and making it harder for U.S. farmers to stay competitive.

“We have an import problem in specialty crops in the Southeast and other parts of the country,” explained Bob Redding, President of The Redding Firm. “There are a number of imports from Mexico that are coming in and pushing down U.S. prices… It can be seasonal, but there are also commodities that have the same problem year-round. We’ve seen a 550% increase in specialty crop imports since 2001.”

However, there’s hope for some relief. The United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement (USMCA) trade deal is up for review this summer—an infrequent but potentially game-changing opportunity.

“These windows of opportunity come along very seldom. They are not frequent,” said Redding. “And this USMCA review is a unique review process. We’re hopeful that a problem that’s been going on for a number of years can finally get addressed.”

By: John Holcomb

Drone Dock Innovation Poised to Revolutionize Crop Spraying in Georgia

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Tifton, GA |

In a world where precision and efficiency are more vital than ever, the future of farming is taking flight—literally. On farms across Georgia and beyond, drones are being used to scout crops and spray fields with growing frequency. But one persistent challenge remains: how to easily transport and reload these drones between applications.

Enter the drone dock—a game-changing innovation developed by Luan Oliveira, Precision Ag Extension Specialist at the University of Georgia. The idea was sparked by a simple suggestion from one of Oliveira’s students.

“One day a student said, ‘Hey, can we put this drone on that robot so we don’t have to keep taking it on and off the truck?’” said Oliveira. “We went beyond that. We didn’t just put the drone on the robot. We developed a whole platform that calculates the chemical amount, doses the chemicals, and delivers them to the drone.”

This integrated system automates the chemical preparation process, eliminating the need for farmers to mix and measure pesticides by hand—a process that’s often time-consuming and prone to error.

“It automates the whole process by calculating, dosing, and delivering chemicals to the drone,” Oliveira explained. “Our preliminary research shows it’s ten times faster than doing it manually.”

Speed isn’t the only advantage. The system also offers ease of use, with a mobile app that lets farmers select the acreage to treat and specify the amount of up to three different chemicals to apply.

“You just open the app and say, ‘I have two acres, and I want one ounce of chemical one, 2.5 ounces of chemical two, and four ounces of chemical three,’” Oliveira said. “Press a button, and it eliminates all the manual mixing, shaking, and delivering. Everything is automated.”

While traditional ground sprayers still dominate the market, drones are making a strong case for adoption—especially in hard-to-reach fields or following adverse weather conditions.

“A spray drone can go where a sprayer can’t—like after a big rain,” said Oliveira. “Sometimes you can’t get the sprayer in fast enough to apply fungicides. A drone can do that for you.”

Drones are also proving their worth in spot spraying, where growers can fly smaller drones to detect weeds, generate a field map, and then send that map to the spraying drone to target only the needed areas.

With innovations like the drone dock making precision ag more accessible, drones are set to play a central role in the farms of tomorrow—combining convenience, speed, and sustainability.

By: Damon Jones

Growing Georgia’s Grape Industry: UGA Extension Helps Vineyards Thrive

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Ellijay, GA |

From the rolling hills of North Georgia to vineyards scattered across the state, grapes are becoming a rising star in Georgia agriculture. At the heart of this growth is Sarah Lowder, Viticulture Extension Specialist at the University of Georgia, who is helping to shape the future of the state’s young—but expanding—wine industry.

“As an extension specialist, my job is to help extend the educational impacts that all these universities, all of the scientists are generating, to where it can be applicable for the people that are using it,” said Lowder. “As the viticulture specialist, that means I get to work with people that grow grapes—and help to figure out how to grow grapes better in the state of Georgia.”

While viticulture is a centuries-old tradition in places like Europe or California, Georgia’s modern wine industry is still in its early stages, with most of its growth coming in just the past few decades.

“Viticulture is an international thing,” said Lowder. “Everyone can think of different wine growing regions across the world. But the industry as it currently is in Georgia is still fairly new—like twenty, thirty years. Grapes can be pretty intensive. You’re trying to trellis them, train them, and manage different diseases and pests. And then it’s formed into wine, which is an added-value product. So there’s a lot of interest in making sure those grapes are the best quality grapes that can produce the best quality wines—ones that really express the region they come from.”

That’s where Lowder and her team step in—providing support and science-backed resources to growers navigating the many challenges of establishing successful vineyards.

“It takes a lot of work to get these vines in the ground,” she said. “And so sometimes these growers are working and they’re like, ‘Alright, now I have questions about how I do this.’ That’s where I get to come in—and the other people I work with—to help support these growers and do a better job doing what they’re doing.”

Thanks to increasing consumer demand and the rise of agritourism, Georgia’s wine industry has seen rapid growth in recent years, with wineries becoming popular weekend destinations.

“The wine industry has seen a real boom,” said Lowder. “I think it’s driven as part of the agritourism business. People want the experience of going to a winery, having wine that’s been grown and made on-site, and just enjoying a beautiful day in the mountains of Georgia—where you can enjoy the view and a Georgia-grown product.”

Grapes may be a niche crop in the broader landscape of Georgia agriculture, but they represent big opportunity—and long-term investment.

“Grapes are a really, really cool crop to work with,” said Lowder. “They’re perennials. These vines are going to stay in your vineyard and produce for many, many, many years.”

By: John Holcomb