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