Author Archives: John Holcomb

Georgia Corn Comeback? Farmers Prepare for 2025 Amid Rising Costs & Drought Challenges

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Tifton, GA |

After seeing a significant drop in acres of corn being planted in Georgia last year, those numbers look to be on the rebound in 2025, especially with the issues other crops around the state are experiencing.

“I think that given some of the constraints with some of the other commodities, that we’re probably going to see an increase in corn acreage this year. I have a prediction but we’ll see if it comes to fruition this year, but I think there’s going to be a significant increase with the crop,” says Nicholas Shay, Extension Grains Agronomist.

Despite seeing prices surge by more than thirty percent over the past six months, growers must still walk a fine line in order to turn a profit, especially with the ever-increasing cost of production.

“To navigate that, we have to try to really manage our input efficiency the best we can, and really go back to the drawing board and count our pennies to make sure that we’re being as efficient as possible with our agronomic management or crop management plan in that, for the season,” says Shay.

Another major issue for growers is the long periods of dry weather throughout the state each and every year. It’s a factor that should always be accounted for when planning crop management.

“I think we can bet that every single year, there has been some sort of level of intermittent drought that has occurred. And so, I think really staying on top of your nutrient management and understanding how a crop responds to drought or to a treatment or a fertilizer application that you’re going to apply in the growing season,” says Shay.

The biggest defense against drought conditions is to implement preventative strategies as soon as possible.

“We have to prepare that crop for those stressful environments instead of reacting to a common symptom entomology we may see in the field. If we’d be proactive and have a proactive mitigation strategy, then maybe we can alleviate some of that stress in the growing season, especially when it comes to drought,” says Shay.

With that in mind, it’s never too early to start preparing, especially with planting season right around the corner.

“Growers should obviously be focusing on making sure their equipment is ready, land preparation this time of year, making sure that they have a good plan in place to start the year as far as fertility, as far as weed management, preparing that ground. Then making sure that they have that plan A, plan B in place to be proactive in their approach to mitigate those midseason or early season stresses that we can almost expect are going to occur,” says Shay.

By: Damon Jones

Georgia Cotton Growers Face Tough Times: Low Prices, High Costs & Hope for 2025

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Tifton, GA |

Recently in Tifton, cotton growers here in Georgia gathered for their annual meeting for a time of fellowship and education, which of course couldn’t come at a better time as growers saw one of the toughest years they’ve ever seen in 2024.

“This is really an opportunity for the industry as a whole, beyond the producer level, even to come together to really, come together and fellowship or, as it turns out, in 2025, maybe commiserate, with this really bad confluence of situations that we have here. Economic, weather, policy, all that have kind of come together and really detrimental to our cotton industry here in Georgia. But also to learn about solutions, how we’re going to improve the situation, what the industry is doing to to move us forward, how we’re going to meet our consumers, how our mills and manufacturer customers, and how we’re going to meet them where they are to move, to move cotton production forward in Georgia in 2025 and beyond,” says Taylor Sills, Executive Director of the Georgia Cotton Commission.

Most of the situation can be attributed to low commodity prices that aren’t covering the costs of their inputs, and unfortunately, according to Extension cotton agronomist, Camp Hand, the situation for 2025 isn’t looking much better.

“It’s the price of cotton and the cost of the inputs. I’d say it cost ninety cents per pound of  cotton to grow the crop, but then you are selling it for right now, today, a December 2025 contract is going for sixty-eight, sixty-nine cents. So you’re twenty cent below the cost of production. That’s serious, and so it’s tough. We’ve been put in some tough situations because the international market is just a different place than it was a few years ago,” says Camp Hand, Extension Cotton Agronomist.

However, according to Hand, even though growers are in a tough spot, the only thing that would make it worse is to not try to grow a good crop, which is why he and other extension experts are there to give growers the tools they need to do so.

“At the end of the day, these growers in Georgia, whether they want to be or not or are married to it. What we want guys to know is that if you put a crop in the ground, you gotta make it, and so we’re trying to give them the tools that they need to make the most out of a bad situation,” says Hand.

Despite the tough economic situation, there is some good news for growers heading into the 2025 season, as extension plant pathologist, Bob Kemerait says that disease pressure growers saw in 2024 shouldn’t be a problem this season, thanks to good, actual winter weather the state has seen.

“Going into 2025, I’m really excited. This cold weather, this snow we’ve had, freezing temperatures; I call it a reset button because what happens with the freezing temperatures is we kill off some of our volunteer cotton, which can bring forward, be a bridge. Also, those cold soil temperatures are going to start to send those nematodes to bed for a while; slow them down, maybe kill some of them, but certainly break their life cycle. So what we’ve had with this cold weather is we are now completely in 2025 season and not bringing 2024 along with us,” says Bob Kemerait, Extension Plant Pathologist.

By: John Holcomb

Georgia Farmers Advocate for Relief & Reform at State Capitol

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Atlanta, GA |

Recently in Atlanta, Georgia Farm Bureau showed off its grassroots strength as nearly 600 members attended this year’s GFB Day at the Capitol event – an annual gathering full of advocacy, education, and fellowship between members and their legislators.

“As a true grassroots organization, that is what we’re here for. We’re connecting the constituents and our members back home with their elected officials so they can hear directly from the experts what kind of hurdles they’re having to deal with on the farm. And there are thousands of bills that get introduced every year, they cannot be experts on every topic. So they rely on not only the folks that represent organizations, but especially when we can bring the members here directly so they can hear from them,” says Alex Bradford Director of Public for GFB.

Of course, the timing of the event couldn’t come at a better time as there are several ag issues being discussed this year; the main one being Hurricane Helene Relief, like increasing funding for the Safety 24 low interest loan program that would put money into farmers’ pockets.

“The Georgia Development Authority is overseeing the safety twenty-four low interest loan program. So one of the things we’re doing is advocating for more funding to be made available through that loan program so that low interest loan offers producers the loan at two percent, which is, well below market rate right now. Helps get them some cash quick as they begin the rebuild process and prepare and plan for this coming up growing season,” says Adam Belflower, GFB State Affairs Manager.

Another huge Hurricane Helene Relief measure comes with House Bill 223 – a bill that aims to provide relief to the sixty-six counties under disaster declaration: First and foremost, it would exempt state income tax on federal disaster assistance. Second, it would create a reforestation tax credit for all trees in the commercial production of timber, food, or wood products. Lastly it would provide a sales tax exemption for building materials for poultry houses and livestock barns – all things Belflower says would be great for the ag sector, but says they’re still working to find other helpful relief measures.

“There’s some other ideas in the chambers right now of what we can do to build on the work that’s already happening. So we’re working with members to try to see what the best path forward is, just to provide relief for our folks,” says Belflower.

Another big issue being worked on this year is tort reform as insurance premiums have undeniably gotten out of control, which has left small businesses, farmers, and their operations in a vulnerable position.

“What we’re seeing is it becoming more and more expensive to get insurance, access to insurance for some of these people that carry really high liability coverage, for different things whether that might be commercial trucking, different businesses in general. And really on all Georgians, it’s driving up the cost of doing business, and it’s driving up the cost for just everyday insurers to keep that coverage that they need. But overall, the goal is to drive down the cost of doing business and to ease a burden on Georgians that are really just constantly getting hit with skyrocketing insurance rates, small business owners, farmers that are constantly at threat of a lawsuit,” says Belflower.

By: John Holcomb

U.S. Agricultural Trade Deficit Hits Record High: Will New Tariffs on Canada & Mexico Help?

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Athens, GA |

With the agricultural trade deficit reaching a record high of more than thirty billion dollars in 2024, sweeping changes are being discussed to get things back into balance. And chief among them is a tariff being placed on goods imported from Canada and Mexico, which would impact on one sector in particular.

“Some parties may benefit and some may be hurt. So, we have producers of fruits and vegetables in this country. To the extend we put a trade barrier in place and prevent and raise the price of goods that are coming in from Mexico, say for fruits and vegetables, it might make fruit and vegetable products in the United States more competitive. So, it might actually raise the welfare of domestic fruit and vegetable producers,” says Michael Adjemian, Professor of Agriculture & Applied Economics.

As for consumers, potential price increases at the grocery store from these proposed tariffs might just depend on the time of year.

“There’s different growing seasons for products depending on the country that they come from. Right now, US consumers are used to consuming fruits and vegetables year around, but we have a specific season for growing those products in the United States. So, if we limit the trade between the US and Mexico, the price of the products that we import from Mexico will be higher seasonally,” says Adjemian.

This policy would also have an impact on the export market as retaliatory tariffs would likely be the byproduct. However, those effects might not be long lasting if the US is able to cultivate new partners.

“Domestic agricultural producers export quite a bit of what we produce. And so, to the extent that, tariffs overseas are put in place as retaliation to the tariffs that the United States is putting into place, then that can actually reduce the profitability or the revenue that is able to be generated by those exports. On the other hand, because these are bilateral tariffs, it may be the case that US exporters can find alternative markets for their products. So, after a period of adjustment, it may be the case that prices even out,” says Adjemian.

That forced expansion might also be a net positive in the long term as it would showcase American goods to other countries.

“It may be the case that by learning we can expose consumers around the world to just how good US agricultural products are. And maybe we’re forced to through policy, through tariffs, find alternative markets, then that may expand, kind of the market access in the long run, especially if these tariffs aren’t kind of put in place for a long period of time if at all. So, we potentially may see new markets opening to our goods,” says Adjemian.

However, there is also a possible downside to limiting trade with two of the largest importers of US agricultural goods.

“If other countries retaliate to our tariffs that we put into place, and the limit, the supply of US products that they purchase, then they may start to, and other countries around the world may start to invest in agriculture and start to produce products that compete with our exports,” says Adjemian.

By: Damon Jones

Avian Influenza Hits Georgia Poultry Industry: Impact on Farmers, Consumers & Prices

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Gainesville, GA |

Poultry production is big business here in Georgia, accounting for more than a quarter of the state’s agricultural income. So, when a threat like the avian influenza finds its way into commercial production here in the state, industry experts, government officials and most importantly farmers all work together in addressing the problem quickly.

“I believe they have a really high level of awareness of the role that they play in preventing the disease, the virus from entering the farm. I think there’s a high level of concern, but it’s grounded in a lot of education and outreach that’s been going on for many years,” says Mike Giles, President of the Georgia Poultry Federation.

“It’s a big concern for the poultry industry. It affects our exports. It affects our markets. So, we want to make sure that we stamp it out as soon as possible. So, along with the Georgia Department of Ag and USDA, we, we have a very strong team to do this quickly,” says Dr. Louise Dufour-Zavala, Executive Director of the Georgia Poultry Lab.

After the infected flock has been depopulated by the State Agricultural Response Team, the priority then shifts to preventing the virus from spreading to surrounding operations. That’s where the Georgia Poultry Lab gets cranked up, testing thousands of birds in the area.

“What we have to do is make sure that the virus has not spread to a ten kilometer or about six-mile radius around that farm or beyond. So, the response includes surveillance of all those farms. So, we have to test twenty-two birds per house for all of those dozens and dozens of farms that are around that infected premise,” says Dufour-Zavala.

While this outbreak can be contained in the short term, it is a major concern that might stretch into the future.

“It’s in wildlife. So, it’s not like we can stop it very quickly because the source of the virus is in the wild bird and the migratory waterfowl, etc. So, it’s hard to tell exactly when we’re going to get out this because the viruses have their life cycles through wildlife. So, it’s very difficult to tell when we’re out of it. So, I think we’ll always have to be vigilant and be looking for it basically,” says Dufour-Zavala.

Consumers are certainly feeling the effects of this most recent bout with avian influenza, as egg prices have soared to more than four dollars per dozen.

“Late October of 2024, in our nation, we’ve lost between thirty to forty million hens that are producing eggs that we eat. So, just to give you some context on that, when our nation’s flock is, fully supplied or stocked to meet the demand, we can be around three hundred and twenty million hens. So, that’s a very significant reduction in the supply,” says Giles.

While the prices for these items might be alarming, their safety shouldn’t be as each product goes through rigorous testing before heading to market.

“We test a lot of chickens. We test all of the flocks anyways, even when we don’t have avian influenza around. We test every single flock before they go to market. Then, if we find it, we stamp it out. So, no, there is no danger of this getting into the food supply at all,” says Dufour-Zavala.

By: Damon Jones

Georgia Farmers Face Tough Times: Low Prices, High Costs & Storm Damage in 2024

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Tifton, GA |

2024 was without a doubt a difficult year for Georgia farmers and producers as they faced low commodity prices, high operating costs, and devastating hurricanes – things experts say have left farmers struggling with historically low income.

“The real challenge at the beginning of the year was lower prices and crop prices in particular compared to livestock prices. They were falling rapidly from the 2022 highs, so the farm revenue or cash receipts was going to be down anyway. Then we were hit with natural disasters. Hurricane Helene in particular, that wiped out, in my estimation, about thirty-eight percent of the crop receipts, revenue receipts for Georgia agriculture. So the 2024 whole year, together with the price decline and the disaster has been a very, very challenging year. The net cash income for Georgia producers is probably going to be historically low,” says Gopi Munisamy, a Professor at the University of Georgia.

To make matters worse, Munisamy says that those challenges from 2024 will unfortunately carry over into this year, which will create more difficulties for producers, especially when it comes to working capital.

“The first thing is the low prices that I talked about at the beginning of 2024; they’re going to continue into 2025. The second thing is working capital that you need to operate your farm is down 6.9 percent nationally, but given that we lost a significant amount of revenue because of Hurricane Helene, our farmers are going to be even shorter on working capital. So for them to get their machines up and running, the infrastructure put in place, buy seeds, buy fertilizers, they’re going to be very challenged,” says Munisamy.

However, the livestock sector has had a different tale to tell, as last year, the cattle inventory remained low which kept prices high – a trend experts say will continue this year.

“We’re seeing those tight supplies continue, should continue through 2025. That’s going to support those higher prices again going forward into 2025. We’ve already seen that at the cow calf level, where we’re seeing prices up fifteen, twenty percent year over year again at the beginning of 2025,” says Will Secor, UGA Extension Livestock Economist.

For poultry, Secor believes the industry, as it typically does, will remain strong this year, but says there is some uncertainty as Avian Influenza continues to spread, which Secor says for now, has continued to only effect egg prices.

“Because of chicken’s lower price at the meat counter in grocery stores, we expect that the chicken demand is probably going to remain relatively strong. That being said, if we run into any HPAI issues that could hurt some of the production and might raise prices going forward. The biggest effects that we’re seeing right now is in eggs. Those prices have been up since about mid-November. Those have been up about forty percent, depending on where you are in the country. So those prices are going to be the biggest direct effect. Usually egg layers seem to be the most impacted by HPAI. We’re starting to see some more in commercial broiler production that could potentially have an impact in chicken prices, but right now we haven’t seen that in the data, at least to this point,” says Secor.

By: John Holcomb

Concerns Over Chronic Wasting Disease and Livestock: Expert Weighs In

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Macon, GA |

Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) has sparked concerns among livestock producers and hunters alike. To address these issues, Dr. Tina Johannsen, Game Management Assistant Chief with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR), recently joined a discussion to clarify the risks and management strategies related to CWD.

Can Livestock Contract CWD?

For livestock owners worried about potential transmission from deer to their animals, Dr. Johannsen provided a reassuring answer.

“No,” she stated simply. “The good news is that CWD has been present on the landscape for over 50 years in the western U.S. and more than 20 years in the east, with no evidence that it infects anything other than deer, elk, and moose.”

Additionally, scavengers and livestock, including cattle, horses, goats, and sheep, do not appear to be affected. Even feral pigs, which may ingest infected material, do not seem to contribute to the disease’s spread.

What Are the Signs of CWD in Deer?

Identifying CWD in deer can be challenging. The disease has an incubation period of 18 to 30 months, during which infected deer appear healthy. It’s only in the final weeks before death that symptoms become evident.

“CWD is a neurological disease that causes brain damage and affects the central nervous system,” explained Dr. Johannsen. “In the late stages, deer exhibit signs such as weight loss, droopy ears, poor coat condition, and abnormal behavior. They may appear disoriented or fail to flee when approached.”

However, these symptoms are not unique to CWD. Other diseases like Blue Tongue and epizootic hemorrhagic disease, as well as brain abscesses, can produce similar effects, complicating diagnosis.

Advice for Hunters in CWD Management Areas

With CWD detected in Georgia, the DNR has implemented monitoring and management efforts in affected regions, particularly Berrien and Lanier counties. Hunters in these areas are encouraged to participate in voluntary testing programs.

“For hunting season, we’ll set up drop-off stations with freezers where hunters can leave deer heads for testing,” Dr. Johannsen explained. “We’ll notify them as soon as results are available.”

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends against consuming CWD-positive deer, though the final decision is up to the hunter. “The CDC is very cautious when it comes to human health, so if a deer is sick, we advise against eating it,” she added.

Participation in testing helps both individual hunters and the broader management effort, as officials aim to contain CWD within the smallest possible area for as long as possible.

Staying Informed and Vigilant

As CWD remains a pressing issue, livestock producers and hunters should stay informed through reliable sources such as state wildlife agencies and the CDC. The Georgia DNR continues to monitor the situation and provide updates as necessary.

For more information on CWD management and testing locations, visit the Georgia DNR website or contact local wildlife authorities.

Farm Bureau Urges Swift Action on 2025 Farm Bill and Tax Policy

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Washington, D.C. |

In testimony before Congress, Farm Bureau President, Zippy Duvall pressed for urgent action on a modernized five-year farm bill, tax policy, and agricultural workforce challenges. Chairman Boozman and Ranking Member Klobuchar were thanked for their commitment to farmers, but the message was clear: delays in policy updates are threatening American agriculture.

Farm Bill Priorities
Duvall emphasized the need for increased funding, unified nutrition and farm programs, and strengthened risk management tools. “Farmers are facing mounting losses,” he testified. “With net farm income down $41 billion since 2022 and crop prices plummeting, the need for a stronger safety net has never been greater.” Rising input costs and economic uncertainty highlight the need for enhanced Title I safety net provisions.

Tax and Workforce Challenges
The looming expiration of Tax Cuts and Jobs Act provisions could impose the largest tax hike in U.S. history on farm businesses. “Failing to extend these tax provisions will take billions out of farmers’ pockets at a time when they have no dollars to spare,” the testimony warned. Additionally, the lack of a sustainable agricultural workforce solution remains a major concern, forcing many farms to shut down. “The costs are too high, and the labor force is too small,” says Duvall. “If we don’t act now, we risk losing family farms at an unprecedented rate.”

Trade and Crop Protection
Farmers struggle with supply chain disruptions, high production costs, and regulatory uncertainty over crop protection tools. “Ongoing inflation, supply issues, and inconsistent regulations are creating a perfect storm for farmers and ranchers,” Duvall explained. Meanwhile, U.S. agriculture saw a $32 billion trade deficit in 2024, contrasting with past trade surpluses. “Our ability to compete globally is being hindered by trade barriers and lack of market access.” Expanded market access and reduced trade barriers are needed to restore competitiveness.

Call to Action
Duvall urged Congress to act swiftly on these issues, emphasizing the urgency of protecting farmers’ livelihoods and sustaining rural communities. “American agriculture is at a crossroads,” Duvall concluded. “Without decisive action, our food security, economy, and rural way of life are at risk.”

You can watch the hearing, here.

Georgia’s YF&R Competitors Compete in San Antonio

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San Antonio, GA |

Some of Georgia’s brightest in the world of agriculture were on hand here in San Antonio to compete in this year’s YF&R Competitive events. The journey to get here hasn’t been an easy one, but nonetheless, they’ve been in great hands preparing for this moment.

“We’ve got several practices that we’ve had with discussion meet in particular, we’ve talked to several people that have done the competition before, several state winners that have competed on a national level before. They’ve given some good insight to how it actually runs here. As far as the other, achievement and excellence, it’s really just been working through presentations, making sure that their applications are finalized, ready to go, and making sure that they feel comfortable with the questions that they potentially will be asked. We’ve done a few practices for them as well, again, just trying to make sure that we’re attacking this from every angle,” says Levi Davis, GFB YF&R Program Coordinator.

For discussion meet competitor, Cain Thurmond of Jackson County, competing in Texas at the national level is a task he took very seriously, spending the last few weeks, months even, preparing by doing what he does best: having conversations.

“I think the preparation process was a really good experiment because it forced me to have the conversations that I need to be having anyway. So reaching out to not only my County Farm Bureau, but meeting with people within the state and then reaching beyond that, maybe some Farm Bureau members of the past or Farm Bureau people that should be Farm Bureau members and asking them questions about how are we doing, what more can we be doing? What are the challenges on your farm? And so the preparation process was long and arduous, and I’m glad to finally get here to use some of that preparation and put it to work, but I just believe in being prepared no matter what, and so I wanted to be overly prepared, better to be overly prepared and not prepared at all,” says Cain Thurmond, YF&R Discussion Meet Competitor.

For Kaitlyn and Kaleb Marchant of Oglethorpe County, competitors in this year’s Excellence in Agriculture competition, being here in San Antonio is a testament to preparation that has been years in the making, and of course a support system of fellow GFB members that have encouraged them along the way.

“The great thing about this contest is that it’s really just an opportunity for us to share the work that we’ve already done on the front end. So the tough part was the last five or six years of being really actively involved and building up our resume, getting here and just being able to share that and tell that story is really, honestly been kind of the easy and fun part, and we just surround ourself good people. So we came from a really strong YF&R committee that was really cohesive and worked really well together, and our local farm bureau really supported us and anything we wanted to do, and they kind of pushed us along and encouraged us to step out of our comfort zones,” says Kaleb & Kaitlyn Marchant, Excellence in Agriculture Competitors.

In the end, Thurmond advanced his way to the final four round, but ended the competition just shy of the grand prize, coming in second place, however he’s still thrilled with the result and the experience that came with it and says he’s ready to get to work to make a difference back in Georgia.

“Every round we mentioned grassroots and so I’m really excited to kind of get off the stage and get into the grassroots to dig in in Jackson County to make a difference and to do that and everything that I can to ensure that future generations can enjoy agriculture there,” says Thurmond.

By: John Holcomb

Georgia Farmers Gain Access to Vital Water Source After 13-Year Ban

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Tifton, GA |

Despite the countless hours that go into preparing the land, choosing the right variety and protecting against pests and diseases, no crop can be successful without the proper amount of water. And for more than a decade the largest underground source in the region has been unavailable to farmers here in Georgia. However, thanks to a new ruling from the EPD, those restrictions have been lifted.

“EPD will begin accepting applications for new withdrawals from the Floridan aquifer in southwest Georgia beginning in April of 2025. That’s certainly welcomed news as that area’s been under a moratorium now for, thirteen years. The news is, as I say, certainly welcomed for growers in that area. The Floridan aquifer is a fantastic resource for farmers in that area. It supports hundreds of thousands of acres of irrigation,” says Mark Masters, Director for the Georgia Water Planning and Policy Center.

With a number of counties in that part of the state experiencing abnormally dry conditions in 2024, having the aquifer as a possible option for irrigation is exciting news.

“The Floridan is a resource in terms of groundwater that is more readily accessible for most of the growers in Southwest Georgia in terms of the cost of tapping that resource unlike some of the deeper aquifers. And so, for farmers that may be looking to expand their irrigated acreage in some way, this is an important development,” says Masters.

Despite the ruling that allows for these new drilling permits, there will still be some restrictions on water usage in order to maintain the ecosystem.

“This is not opening up to just unlimited acreage forever. These new permits will have some drought restrictions on them because as we now know, there is that tight connection and we want to make sure that we are maintaining adequate stream flows in some of those critical areas. And so, these new permits will have some drought restrictions in place, but again, in most years, this is going to be a really good resource for our farmers,” says Masters.

Being good stewards of the land, which includes maximizing water efficiency, is a cornerstone within the farming community and one of the major factors that went into this new ruling.

“One of the main reasons we’re able to make this announcement and that we got this good news from the governor’s office is that over this same period of time, we’ve been able to demonstrate that our farmers are really good stewards of the resource. And so, we understand that their use is highly efficient and that they’re taking care of our shared water resources. That’s gone a long way to helping us get to this place where we’re now able to begin expanding some of that use,” says Masters.

This is also a culmination of plenty of hard work behind the scenes, where researchers, administrators, and most importantly, farmers worked together in order to come up with a resolution.

“As much as Farm Bureau has been involved with getting that moratorium looked at and lifted for everything from frost protection to irrigation wells, it probably wouldn’t have moved as fast if it hadn’t had been for Farm Bureau. So, to all of the people down in that part of the state that are Farm Bureau members, thank you for helping us get the ball rolling,” says Tom McCall, Georgia Farm Bureau President.

By: Damon Jones