Tag Archives: Damon Jones Farm Monitor

Georgia Cotton Growers Face Challenges & Change in 2025

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Collins, GA |

Cotton continues to be a major driver of Georgia’s economy, contributing nearly $1 billion in statewide economic impact last year alone. But those numbers don’t come without months of hard work and preparation—efforts that begin long before a single seed hits the soil.

“Oh, that’s a lot of work,” says Willie Scott, a Tattnall County cotton grower. “You’ve got to watch your equipment and scout your fields. It’s a daily and weekly job—watching the weather, making timely inputs like spraying and fertilizing, and trying to work with the conditions you’re given.”

Now that planting season is officially underway, growers like Scott are focused on getting their crop off to the best start possible. Though harvest is still months away, timing is everything when it comes to yield.

“This time of year is important,” Scott explains. “You’ve got to have the right amount of moisture, the right temperature—not too cold, not too dry. Getting it in at the right time makes a big difference. It probably takes me about a week to get all of mine done. I told my wife, these next couple of weeks, don’t have anything planned for me.”

With dicamba no longer an option for weed control going into 2025, many producers are turning to cover crops and other strategies to keep fields clean—especially with margins tighter than ever.

“Watching input costs is very important,” says Scott. “You’ve got to pick the right variety and do proper farm management so you can cut costs without cutting yield. If you can start clean, Liberty still works. You hope to get all the weeds out early, and then use Liberty to clean up any pigweed that escapes.”

Market volatility has also led to strategic decisions around crop selection. Cotton prices are hovering around 67 cents per pound—less than half of what they were just two years ago. As a result, planted acres in Georgia dropped by 8% in 2024, including on Scott’s farm.

“Cotton is our main source,” he says. “But we did put corn in the program this year, and we have peanuts in the rotation as well. Still, cotton is my main crop.”

Despite the challenges that come with farming—rising costs, market swings, and regulatory changes—Scott says it’s a life he was born into and wouldn’t trade for anything.

“I’m a third-generation farmer. My grandfather bought this home place back in 1940. Then my father started farming. I grew up watching them, and it’s just something I knew I loved to do. It took off from there, and I took the reins and started doing it on my own.”

Dicamba Ban Forces Georgia Farmers to Rethink Weed Control | Pigweed Management in 2025

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Tifton, GA |

With cotton prices down and margins tighter than ever, Georgia farmers are laser-focused on maximizing yield—and that starts with effective weed control. But for many, keeping fields free of pigweed just got more difficult after a U.S. court ruling banned the use of over-the-top dicamba herbicides last year.

“It’s very important,” says Stanley Culpepper, Weed Extension Scientist with the University of Georgia. “Older chemistries—products labeled for pastures, turf, or for burndown—those labels weren’t impacted. But the Engenia, XtendiMax, and Tavium labels were, and they’ve been extremely important to us in both cotton and soybean production.”

Unlike previous restrictions, this latest ban wasn’t based on environmental or health concerns. Instead, it stemmed from a procedural error—specifically, the EPA’s failure to open dicamba’s registration for public notice and comment. That misstep triggered a potential 28-month review process.

“We didn’t lose those labels because of an environmental issue,” says Culpepper. “It was a procedural issue when registering the product during the last process. As of today, it’s still not looking very favorable for 2025. We recommend growers start thinking about alternative systems—we’ve been doing that for a couple of months—and we’re working hard for 2026. But I’ll tell you, there are no guarantees.”

Despite the setback, Culpepper says there are other effective options available, depending on the seed trait technology being used. However, these programs demand sharper precision and tighter timing.

“You’re looking at an Enlist program—kind of that 2,4-D system—or a Liberty-based program,” he says. “Both can be effective, but only if we make sure there are no weeds at planting. You have to be super timely—more timely than with the dicamba-based program. We can still control this weed, we just need to be more on top of our game this year. We can’t play catch-up like we’ve been able to in the past.”

As input costs continue to rise, farmers are carefully weighing every decision. But Culpepper warns that cutting back on herbicide programs may cost more in the long run.

“Weed management is one of many important components for sustainability on our family farms,” he says. “In a year like this, you’re typically trying to save money. But when it comes to weed management—especially with Palmer amaranth—there’s not a lot you can cut. We’re already using every tool in the toolbox.”

For growers navigating a tough season, staying proactive in the face of change may be the most important tool of all.

By: Damon Jones

Red Tip Farms: Family Lessons, Fresh Eggs & a Berry Sweet Business in Pike County

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Meansville, GA |

After years of planning and preparation, Red Tip Farms in Meansville officially opened its gates last May—bringing fresh produce, eggs, and hands-on experiences to the local community through its U-Pick operation and farm market. For owner Terry Batchelor, the project is more than just a business—it’s a way to instill hard work and financial responsibility in the next generation.

“To have this piece of property here, I live next door. And so, was able to utilize this and was like, hey, what better chance than to put in a U-Pick operation?” says Batchelor. “It has done really well and grown every year. It’s been a blessing and showed my kids the value of a dollar—being able to work and not just hand out money. It’s really taught them life lessons for sure.”

With the cost and scarcity of eggs drawing concern in recent months, the farm’s small-scale egg production has been a hit among visitors, who are quick to snatch up cartons as soon as they’re available.

“We’re very small—we have just fifteen, twenty chickens. And yes, this year has definitely seen a big increase in demand for eggs,” says Batchelor. “As quick as I put them out there, they’re gone, usually within the day.”

Amid heightened awareness surrounding Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, Batchelor is taking added precautions—paying close attention to his chickens’ health and feeding them a diet largely sourced from his own row crops.

“My chickens seem to be pretty healthy. We feed them whole grains because of the row crop side of things. I’m involved with growing wheat and corn, and I feed them that type of stuff versus processed food,” he explains.

Still, the main attraction at Red Tip Farms remains the U-Pick berries—specifically blueberries and blackberries—which are expected to be available early next month. And according to Batchelor, things are looking promising.

“So far, we are blessed this year. Blackberries are looking great. Blueberries—we’ve dodged a few cold mornings, but we’ve been fortunate. We do have a bumper crop so far,” he says. “Of course, we’re still a few weeks out from being in the clear, but this year is looking good.”

Helping drive visitors to the farm is its participation in Georgia Farm Bureau’s Certified Farm Markets program—an initiative Batchelor says has significantly boosted visibility and sales.

“It has definitely gotten me way more customers that would have never found me out here,” says Batchelor. “Even though we’re on a state highway, they would’ve never come to the Meansville or Pike County area. It’s been a blessing—more revenue for me and a good thing for Farm Bureau, too.”

For Red Tip Farms, it’s a story of growth rooted in community, education, and a shared love of agriculture.

Georgia Young Farmers & Ranchers Head to D.C. | Advocating for Ag’s Future on Capitol Hill

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Washington D.C. |

Providing leadership development, educational opportunities, and social networking are the cornerstones for the GFB Young Farmers and Ranchers program. And that is best exemplified by their annual trip up to Washington DC, where the next generation of farmers get plenty of all three.

“So, I definitely think it’s important and they need to hear from the younger generation so we are not getting silenced. You know, we’re up here, we’re caring about our operations just as much as the older generation. Then, also, to network with other young farmers around our state that we don’t really necessarily get to do back home; this trip takes us away from the operation, to be able to do that and build those networking opportunities,” says Allie Andrews, GFB YF&R Chair.

While young farmers might question just how much of an impact, they can really have on government policies, the answer is, in fact, quite a bit.

“They have a tremendous voice, and they have a lot of advantages when you think about it; built in institutional advantages. There are agriculture committees in both the Senate and the House. I mean, other industries don’t have that. We know agriculture is in every state. So, every senator cares about agriculture. Most of the members of the House, whether they have a lot of ag or a little know about ag,” says David Salmonsen, AFBF Senior Director of Government Affairs.

That’s why this trip up to DC is so meaningful each and every year. As lawmakers get a first-hand account of just how much federal policies are affecting the next generation of farmers in Georgia.

“We’re bringing our stories up here, to the representatives, to the senators. We’re bringing our industry to their office door and letting them understand what we’re struggling with and what they can do on their side of things to help us out,” says Andrews.

“There is nobody better than people who are actually in the industry, in agriculture, to come to DC, meet the people here. Explain what’s going on. Farmers tell their stories best and a lot of what’s going on by people who don’t understand agriculture don’t even think about how it might impact agriculture. Our senators and representatives, they love to hear from voters. Voters have the best stories. That’s who they really want to hear from,” says Salmonsen.

And not just any voters, but specifically those who have a long-term stake in what kind of decisions are being made affecting the ag industry.

“Our young people can say what you do now, I’ll be living with the rest of my life, or I’ll be operating in a business environment that you are impacting for the rest of my life. Whether it’s positive or negative, you’re imposing costs that are going to affect me as I’m trying to be a successful farmer or a rancher. So, I think it’s great to hear from them,” says Salmonsen.

So, between the educational sessions, meeting with lawmakers and creating new friendships, this annual trip is truly a unique experience.

“It’s awesome. I make new friends every time we get to come. I’m so thankful that this is my second year in a row getting to come. So, that opportunity in itself and I’m coming with a whole new group. So, I’m really excited about the new kids that have come up and then the middle-aged young farmers that are here as well to represent,” says Andrews.

By: Damon Jones