Tag Archives: Georgia Farm Bureau advocacy

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 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