Author Archives: John Holcomb

Preparing the Future of Golf: How ABAC Cultivates Skilled Graduates for Course Management

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Tifton, GA |

While it might be off season for golfers, there is no such thing for those who are tasked with maintaining the fairways and greens. It’s why ABAC, with their turfgrass and Golf Course Management program, as well as this course just a few miles off campus, is so important, as students get both the classroom and real-world learning experience before joining the workforce.

“They are hopefully taking the knowledge they are getting in our lectures and labs and then putting it into practice on a day-to-day basis. Because out here, the superintendent allows them to do pretty much everything under his supervision,” says James McCrimmon.

And there is plenty to do out here, as keeping a golf course in pristine condition requires numerous tips of the trade that can only be learned through experience.

“There’s a lot more to it than people realize because behind the scenes you have a lot of irrigation repairs on an aging irrigation system, you have a lot of spraying that we have to do to keep the turf looking very healthy. A lot of technical aspects of golf course maintenance that you have to learn and little secrets that you have to apply that keep that grass looking like carpet,” says Austin Lawton, Superintendent of Forest Lakes Golf Course.

Even though keeping each aspect of the course in good shape is always the goal, much of the focus and hard work goes into one area in particular.

“The greens are your bread and butter of the golf course. You’ve got to keep consistent greens twelve months a year. We probably mow greens three hundred and twenty days, three hundred and twenty mornings a year. There’s also the other aspects like spraying greens. We spray greens probably forty out of the fifty-two weeks a year,” says Lawton.

That year-round effort pays off in the end, as graduates are well prepared to join a job market that not only is in high demand, but also has opportunities all over the country.

“Students really benefit, good careers, so they get to all around the state and the nation and we do a lot of hands-on learning here for our program. And so, we try to provide these students with opportunities and skills to really see what’s out there in the industry and succeed in the areas where they want to work and live,” says John Layton.

Because of this, it’s a program that has seem some major growth over the past decade in both numbers and status.

“We’ve probably got one of the highest numbers in the country as far as our turfgrass program, but it’s picking up. I know when I started, we had probably sixty-five, seventy in the program. We’re now over one hundred. So, that’s over a ten-year span basically. So, it’s going up every year. I think it’s an excellent program. I mean, I came through it and when I graduated, they hired me on at ABAC. We get multiple calls a day from other people that are alumni and companies and golf courses saying ‘hey, we want your kid to come'”, says Justin Exum, Horticulture Technician at ABAC.

By: Damon Jones

From Passion to Tradition: How the Moss Family’s Christmas Tree Farm Became a Holiday Destination

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Adairsville, GA |

This Christmas season, as many families are embracing their timeless traditions, the Moss family are embracing their own – running this Christmas Tree farm; a tradition that was started by a simple desire to have a real Christmas tree a decade ago.

“On Christmas Day, I decided I was sitting there looking at my tree, what was left of it, and decided I wanted to start something for the family. Just a little small farm, a little small plot, so I cleared a little spot on the property here and planted about ten to fifteen trees. Just trying to see which ones liked the ground, the soil, and all that stuff. Before the next year about forty of my friends said, ‘well, we would like to have a tree as well.’ So we started the process,” says Jared Moss, Owner of Moss Family Christmas Tree Farm.

From there, it definitely was a learning experience, as Moss found out fairly quickly that growing Christmas trees isn’t as simple as he thought and ended up bush-hogging them down after the first year.

“I started planting all these different varieties of trees, because I had always grew up knowing the fraser fir and planted all of them that first year. Out of the seven hundred trees I planted, all of the North Carolina species died because unfortunately, we can’t grow those here. So, I actually went through with a bush hog and cut everything down and kind of restarted,” says Moss.

However, as you can tell, Moss decided to regroup and restart and now grows beautiful, picturesque trees that are sought after by families from near and far, with news traveling by word of mouth.

“Really ninety-five percent, if not more, are customers that are returning and bringing friends or telling their neighbors about our trees and where to go and actually get to experience this. There’s quite a few farms around, but many people could live next door and never know it was there. Many people just find us through their friends, honestly. That’s pretty much our marketing campaign is, ‘hey you tell your family come out and see Moss Family Tree Farm’,” says Moss.

Of course, growing and managing an operation like this one isn’t a task for the faint of heart, but Moss reassures me that all of the hard work is worth it in the end, as they work all year to sell memories, not a product.

“We sell memories, we don’t sell Christmas trees. The Christmas trees are something that you get here. While you’re here, you hear kids laughing, families smiling, people, children running around the bounce houses, just seeing things that many of them have never seen before in their lives. Yes, it is hard work, but those things make every bit of it worth it. Just seeing the smiles on kids’ faces, the wonder, the awe, and the families and the parents as well,” says Moss.

By: John Holcomb

Citrus Continues to Make Strides in Georgia

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Tifton, GA |

Georgia is considered of the most agriculturally diverse states in the country with everything from apples to zucchini being grown. However, until recently, that lists did not include citrus, as it needed farmers taking a leap of faith in order to get the ball rolling.

“Rarely do you get to be a part of something that’s a first generation of anything, and really, everyone growing citrus right now in Georgia, this is the first time it’s ever been done. So, I’m not saying people haven’t played around with a few citrus trees in the back yard, but as a commercial industry, this is new for our state and it has grown into something spectacular,” says Will McGee, Owner of Genuine Georgia.

That progress didn’t come without some trial and error, as each experience provided a new data point for these first-time growers.

“The tree changes, the market changes, we’re learning. We’re trying one thing that doesn’t work, and we find out next year to try something different. So, we’re still trying to fine tune in on exactly what we can do to keep the fruit small, to keep the flavor there. So, it’s a really fine balance on how to get the right size and the right quality,” says Dennis Wright, a Dougherty County Farmer.

All that hard work and patience is coming to fruition this year, as growers finally get to harvest their first fully mature crop. That means consumers can expect some of the highest quality fruit grown right here in the state.

“A tree needs a few years to kind of get up and going, not only from a yield perspective, but also flavor. We have found that juvenile citrus trees don’t really have the same flavor as a more mature tree, so what we’re trying to do is really trying to get those trees into year five, six and seven when that brix and that acid is a perfect reading for an experience that you just can’t find anywhere else; you don’t get the same experience off a one or two year-old tree,” says McGee.

After almost no production over the past couple of years due to a late freeze in 2022, trees are overflowing as harvest season gets underway. That means this new packing facility in Tifton will be working overtime in order to keep up with the yields.

“I was surprised that they put on this much this year. We do a lot of pruning, we do an extensive fertility program, we scout real hard, but it takes a lot of money to get these trees to where they’re at now. It takes a lot of people and a lot of money, but it’s a good experience. You finally see something where five years of hard work comes together and getting our first harvest. It’s a good, quality fruit; Genuine Georgia are doing a good job of marketing and selling. We’ve got a place to go with the fruit, so it’s a good feeling,” says Wright.

This could be just the beginning, with production in Florida falling more than ninety percent over the past couple of decades.

“With what’s going on in Florida, an opportunity in the citrus business was natural for it to flow north and there is a hole in the market that I feel like our particular citrus is going to be able to fill and it’s being met with wide open arms. Our retailers and our whole sellers and the customers are ready for it. It’s almost like a breath of fresh air that we’ve got this burgeoning industry right here in the South,” says McGee.

By: Damon Jones

YF&R Chairs Reflect on Their Year As Leaders

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Cave Spring, GA |

For Cleve and Emilia Jackson, the choice to serve and lead as the Georgia Farm Bureau Young Farmer and Rancher State Committee Chairs was an easy decision, and was something they had a shared desire to do to further a cause they both deeply believe in.

“Cleve and I have always wanted to jump into the opportunity of leadership positions if they’re available, because we want to do something better with what’s around us. So we figured this is a great next step and when the opportunity came open for district one, we put our hat in for it and we were excited to take the chance to be able just to be on the committee. Then when the chance came open to run for chairs, we were at that point again where we were hoping to do something for everybody else around us, and we thought, ‘why not?’,” Say Emilia.

However, their decision wasn’t just about personal growth, it was also about a passion they both have for agriculture and making sure the industry has a voice.

“Every day, farmers like us across the state and across the nation are working hard to put food on our tables, but if we don’t take that next step and get involved in organizations like Farm Bureau that is serving as our voice at the state and the national level, that serving as a unifying body for agriculture in Georgia, then we lose our seat at the table. So, it’s vitally important that farmers like us continue to be engaged in organizations like Farm Bureau, because through organizations like that, we can tell our story,” says Cleve.

For the Jacksons, leaving a lasting legacy was a must, which is why they put a lot of their focus and attention on growing the program.

“Our end goal was to leave the Young Farmer Rancher program better than we found it. The best way we knew to do that was to get more people involved, because we know that serving on the young farmer and rancher committee and doing the young farmer and rancher events are really going to sink the teeth into the other young farmers and ranchers across the state. So what we focused our committee efforts on were to increase participation at all of our events, culminating in our summer leadership conference, where our goal was to have at least one person from every county represented at the conference. We didn’t quite make that, but our attendance increased from last year to this year, and we were really proud of that. From the engagement we had across the state we saw people that had never been, a lot of first time attendees come to the conference that had never been and we know that they will come back because of the experience they had and make our organization stronger,” says Cleve.

Though their time has come to an end, Cleve says the work is far from over, as he believes the need for engagement must continue in order to develop the next generation of ag leaders.

“There’s no doubt that Farm Bureau and the counties and the groups across the state do a wonderful job of educating consumers, of connecting with legislators and representatives, but that work is never done. Just like a farmer in the field has always has things to do, our list is endless, right? The same can be said for opportunity to engage and to connect with the consumer, legislator, the representative and not just us personally, but collectively across the state. We have great engagement from our members, but we could always do better, especially in the Young Farmer and Rancher program to continue to develop that next generation of Farm Bureau leaders,” says Cleve.

By: John Holcomb

Impacts of Hurricane Helene Reflected in Pecan Harvest

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Fort Valley, GA |

It’s a sight producers are excited to see; harvest season. It’s no doubt been a challenging year for producers, especially for those in the path of Hurricane Helene, who, according to Area Pecan Agent, Andrew Sawyer, have seen a majority of their crop decimated and many of their orchards completely leveled.

“We believe that it’s about a seventy-five percent crop loss inside the main direct path of the storm. For tree loss, 400,000 trees over fifty-one counties and 48,000 acres. The economic loss is how much does it cost to replant the tree and how much does it cost to manage that tree for seven years? So, moving to the future income loss, if you didn’t lose that tree, how much would that tree give you if you never lost it for seven years? So, the numbers we have are about a thousand dollars a tree for seven years which comes out to about 417-million-dollar loss. The total loss Hurricane Helene will be around 600 million dollars to the pecan industry in Georgia,” says Andrew Sayer, Area Pecan Agent.

Hurricane Helene however was just one difficulty for growers, as they battled volatile weather all season long.

“They went through a lot of heat and they can take heat but that heat could be an issue, we’ll have to see. Back in June and we went through a drought for five weeks, but in July it started raining and it rained solid again from July through August, and that’s a lot of pressure on the fungicide,” says Sawyer.

Those challenges with the growing season only compounded as their inputs, such as their fungicides, are a huge expense for producers.

“We’ve seen a really strong increase in the inputs, especially since 2021, and for this crop, we depend on fungicide application to hold back pecan scab. We have fungicides that work, and they work very well, but they have to be on a schedule. When it rains, the way it changes is it takes a fourteen-day schedule down to a ten day. So, it does put pressure on those inputs, great pressure on the inputs,” says Sawyer.

To add insult to injury, producers have now seen the price for their crop drop twice since Hurricane Helene made landfall, which Sawyer says is in large part to global market competition and is a real concern for many producers who are already struggling to just break even.

“We compete now with Mexico and they have about half the input costs that we have, without the regulations. South Africa competes with us, so your export market is the in-shell market and we’ve been changing our varieties over back to a shelled market, but we really depend a lot on the domestic and that’s where this puts real pressure on us. Once you get into the price range that we’re at right now, for desirable, I mentioned that before, it’s breakeven price. It’s not much below two dollars, and that of course, is the inputs,” says Sawyer.

By: John Holcomb

Vital Cotton Classing Process Explained

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Macon, GA |

With harvest season for cotton winding down here in the state, it’s now time to see what months of hard work has produced for the growers. And while quantity is always important, quality is equally as vital. Determining that grade starts as soon as the crop gets out of the field.

“At the gin, they separate the seed from the fiber, and the fiber, they develop a five-hundred-pound bale. We get a sample from both sides of that bale. They put a permeant ID tag within that sample, roll it up, put it in a government issued sack, then it’s transported here to the classing office. Once it’s here at the classing office, we unload it and we bring it to our receiving room and that’s when we start processing it,” says Noah Bell, Director of the Macon Classing Office.

The higher the grade, the higher the prices. And that is now more important than ever for growers as the market is less than half of what it was just two years ago. However, in order to receive those high marks, it must first go through a rigorous testing process that evaluates eight different factors.

“We’re looking at it on the instrument and it’s testing it for the micronaire, how fine and mature the fibers are, the strength, length, uniformity, whether or not they have trash, the amount of trash within it, whether or not it’s got bark or grass, which we call extraneous matter. The better the quality is, the higher money they’re going to get for the cotton. It comes off the government loan, which is you get premium and discounts if it’s premium cotton, you’re going to get high quality for it. If it’s low-quality cotton, they’re going to get discounted and it’s going to be lower prices for that particular bale of cotton,” says Bell.

Fortunately, that shouldn’t be a problem for most of the farmers here in the Southeast, as this year’s crop is looking relatively strong despite a number of different challenges.

“The crop is looking real good right now. We started off a little bit low in quality, but over the last three weeks, the quality has improved. We get some real top quality cotton coming in through the classing office. Even with the hurricane, which happened about a month and a half back, getting some of that cotton in now because a lot of those gins just started up, but the quality is holding up,” says Bell.

Just like any other sector of agriculture, this facility is keeping up with the times, as they recently implemented a new and improved system of grading that requires less handling of the cotton.

“We have an automation system that we put in this spring. It’s supposed to be more efficient, which it is helping us out. We’re having to hire fewer employees and the efficiency part is moving quite well. I think we are able to put out about the same amount of cotton we had with the old system where it was more labor intense. The new automation system, the operator, the only thing they’re having to deal with now is just touching the cotton samples,” says Bell.

By: Damon Jones

Senator Ossoff Calls for Urgent Disaster Relief Following Hurricane Helene’s Devastation in Georgia

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Washington, D.C. |

Senator Jon Ossoff urged swift bipartisan action from Congress to deliver disaster relief to Georgia farmers devastated by Hurricane Helene. Speaking before a Senate committee, Ossoff described the catastrophic damage caused by the storm to Georgia’s agricultural sector, infrastructure, and rural communities.

“Georgia farmers, who are the backbone of our rural communities and state economy, are in acute distress,” Ossoff stated, calling for urgent congressional action to pass disaster assistance legislation before the end of the year.

Hurricane Helene brought hurricane-force winds and torrential rains, which ravaged fall crops, destroyed pecan orchards, and damaged 1.5 million acres of timberland. The senator detailed the staggering impact on Georgia’s agricultural production, including significant losses in poultry, cotton, timber, beef, blueberries, pecans, peanuts, and more.

Among the most affected are pecan farmers, some of whom face losses of up to 85% of their orchards, with replacement taking decades. The poultry industry also suffered extensive damage, with 495 poultry houses heavily affected. Other crops like vegetables and cotton have similarly experienced devastating losses, with Georgia projected to lose nearly one-third of its cotton crop.

“This isn’t about numbers; it’s about families and rural communities,” Ossoff emphasized, warning that without immediate assistance, many family farms face bankruptcy. “If they go under, our rural communities go under,” he said, highlighting the ripple effects on local economies, schools, and infrastructure.

The senator’s appeal was underscored by bipartisan unity, with Ossoff and Republican Senator Thom Tillis jointly advocating for expedited relief. Ossoff concluded by urging Congress to set aside politics and act swiftly to support disaster-stricken communities.

“We must pass disaster assistance by the end of the year,” he stated, adding, “The rural way of life in Georgia risks disappearing altogether without our help.”

Senator Ossoff’s call for action comes as Georgia’s agricultural industry, a critical pillar of the state’s economy, faces unprecedented challenges in the wake of the storm.

Farm Succession Planning Crucial for the Future of Agriculture

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Rome, GA |

Farmers dedicate their lives to cultivating the land, building not just livelihoods but legacies. With 70% of farming operations expected to transition within the next 15 years, the need for proactive farm succession planning has never been more urgent. Brian Bojo, a lawyer that often deals with estate law, sheds light on how farmers can prepare for the future while protecting their hard-earned assets and family relationships.

What Is Estate Planning?

Estate planning is about ensuring that your assets—land, equipment, savings, and more—are distributed according to your wishes after you pass away. “The goal is to make sure your ‘stuff’ goes to the people you care about, rather than to someone else or lost to taxes,” Bojo explains.

The process typically involves key legal documents:

  • A Will: Outlines how assets are divided.
  • Power of Attorney: Designates someone to act on your behalf if incapacitated.
  • Advance Directive for Health Care: Specifies medical preferences and decision-making authority in emergencies.

Why Farmers Need a Plan

Farmers face unique estate planning challenges due to the complexity and value of their assets. Farmland, barns, silos, and equipment are not only sources of income but also symbols of a family’s legacy. “These assets often represent generations of hard work,” Bojo says.

Addressing Family Dynamics

Farming families often grapple with difficult questions during the planning process, particularly when it comes to fairness among heirs. While some children may be committed to continuing the farm operation, others may have no interest. Balancing these dynamics requires thoughtful consideration and open communication.

“How do you honor your legacy while being fair to all your heirs?” Bojo asks. He encourages families to reflect on their values, asking questions like:

  • Do I want my grandchildren or great-grandchildren to work this land?
  • Would I prefer to sell the property if my children aren’t interested in farming?
  • How can I ensure family harmony while honoring my vision for the farm?

“There’s no wrong answer,” Bojo emphasizes. “What’s most important is making intentional decisions.”

The Case for Proactive Planning

Farmers often delay estate planning, preoccupied with immediate concerns like weather, crops, and equipment. “It’s easy to think, ‘I’ll get to it later,’” Bojo notes. But waiting too long can create uncertainty and conflict.

The process begins with reflection. “Start with a quiet moment on the porch,” Bojo suggests. “Ask yourself, ‘What do I want this to look like after I’m gone?’” Once you’ve envisioned your goals, communication is the next step.

Bojo stresses the importance of transparency with family members. Whether through formal sit-downs or one-on-one conversations, sharing your intentions can prevent misunderstandings and align expectations. “Sometimes parents assume their children’s desires, only to discover they’re mistaken. Open conversations are key,” Bojo explains.

Barriers to Estate Planning

One common hesitation is fear of upsetting family members. “Many people make decisions based on avoiding conflict, rather than focusing on their goals,” Bojo observes.

He advises shifting the perspective. “Think of it as stewardship. You’ve worked hard to build something meaningful, and it’s your responsibility to ensure it’s managed according to your values.”

For some, this includes prioritizing family harmony. “Many parents want to ensure their decisions don’t cause their children to stop speaking to each other. That’s a valid goal, but ultimately, you’re the boss. Your wishes should guide the plan.”

Getting Started

The idea of succession planning may feel overwhelming, but resources are readily available. Bojo suggests several starting points:

  • Farm Bureau Representatives: Offer tailored resources for farm families.
  • Experienced Attorneys: Specialize in estate planning for landowners and small businesses.
  • Community Members: Share insights from their own experiences with probate or succession planning.

“It doesn’t matter where you start,” Bojo says. “What’s important is beginning the conversation.”

Preserving Your Legacy

For Bojo, working with farming families is an honor. “These are some of the hardest-working, most dedicated people. Their operations are built on years of effort and resilience.”

Succession planning is not about predicting the worst but ensuring continuity. By reflecting on your values, communicating openly with your family, and seeking professional guidance, you can create a plan that protects both your legacy and your loved ones.

In the end, Bojo reminds farmers, “You have the power to decide what happens to your life’s work. Take the time to plan—it’s a vital part of the stewardship you’ve already demonstrated through years of dedication to your farm.”

By: John Holcomb

Georgia Soybean Crop Thriving Despite Hurdles

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Dudley, GA |

While the Midwest might be king when it comes to soybean production, it is a crop that has a strong foothold here in Georgia, as the state is responsible for more than eight million bushels a year. And that number might be even bigger in 2024, as production is expected to be up despite some difficult growing conditions.

“I bet we went probably forty something days with no rain, but that could be worse too, because I got some buddies that’s seven or eight miles from me right here that went about two months without no rain. So, it could be worse, but it was a good growing season other than we had to pump a lot of water. Light bills were higher, fuel bills were higher, but other than that, it was pretty good,” says Cody Lord, a Laurens County Farmer.

However, those dry conditions didn’t extend into the harvest season, as heavy rains from Hurricanes Helene and Milton delayed growers from getting out into the fields. And with warmer than normal conditions sticking around, it’s important to harvest wrapped up as soon as possible.

“I wish they were in the bin because that’s what can mess your beans up, when they stay wet and it’s hot, they can germ and they can get damage to them. But, typically if it’s a normal October, November, where it’s in the forties at night and in the sixties and seventies in the day, it’s not as hot, they won’t germ and go bad. So, normally a bean can take a good bit more weather, but I need these in the bin with the weather we’ve been having. It’s been a little too warm and a little too moist for the bean crop this year,” says Lord.

However, it’s a delicate balancing act as harvested beans have to be at a certain moisture content before they can be stored away in order to maximize their earning potential.

“If you get too much moisture content in a bin, they’ll go through a heat mold and it will ruin your beans as far as seed quality for sure. Then, end users, they want them dry and beans at thirteen percent. If you go in at thirteen point one, they start knocking money per bushel off. So, it’s very important, you want your moisture to be right because if you mess around and have fourteen, fifteen percent moisture on soybeans, they just dinged you a lot of money,” says Lord.

And more than ninety percent of these beans will be going towards seed for next year.

“I grow those for Pioneer and for mixing different varieties, but what I’m growing, they’ll come pick up out of my bins. I’ll keep them and they’re actually cleaned, bagged, and sold back to the farmer to grow for next year,” says Lord.

You can bet Lord will be one of those farmers, as it’s a crop he both enjoys growing and can get the most bang for the buck.

“From the help standpoint, I can take one of those machines behind me and do what three of them roller pickers will do in a day by itself. I’m just rigged up to grow grains so, I like grain. I’d rather run the combine any day than the cotton picker,” says Lord.

By: Damon Jones

Food Bank Helping Rural Families Hurt by Hurricane

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Valdosta, GA |

Holidays are always a busy time of year around The Second Harvest Food Bank of South Georgia. However, this year, thanks to Hurricane Helene, things are kicked up into overdrive, as they also look to help those families rebuilding after the storm.

“Thirteen of our twenty-six counties were affected by the storm. So, we have been doing our kids café program, which is children’s meals. We have been doing our mobile pantry program. We’ve been doing our large pods, which are points of distribution, which are large scale drive thru distributions and we have been working with our partner agencies as well as the EMA’s in most of these communities to put resources on the ground as they’re needed,” says Eliza McCall with Second Harvest Food Bank of South Georgia.

So far, this food bank has provided more than two million meals worth of food and nearly a million bottles of water to those in need. And that’s all thanks to an increase in donations both big and small.

“We have been seeing help come from locally and we have been seeing a great response nationwide from food vendors and from retailers and from businesses and individuals and congregations,” says McCall.

It’s not just food and water that have seen an increase, but also volunteers. Because of that rise in manpower, they are now able to extend their help far and wide.

“We have been building disaster boxes not only for South Georgia, but also for other Hurricane Helene affected areas. So, Florida, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee for other food banks, other Feeding America food banks. And so, the people of South Georgia have been wonderful about coming in and helping us build boxes or showing up at our events and helping us hand out those boxes or other items once they’re built,” says McCall.

That also includes the farming community. While they might now have extra produce to donate due to the crop damage following Helene, they are finding other ways to help out the community.

“Right now, they’ve not been able to do much because they’ve all been so heavily affected. And I know that they want to do more, but they just can’t. But we have seen them volunteer. We’ve seen situations where they’ve called and said what can I do? What can my family do to help you get resources out in say, Clinch County, in Homerville? And so, we’ve been able to use folks as volunteers or as points of contact,” says McCall.

Even though this recent surge has been beneficial in helping those affected in the short term, it’s important to remember, this is just the start of a long rebuilding process.

“We have in this area, been hit by three name storms in a thirteen-month period. And so, now we have a whole bunch of people who were not food insecure before, who now are, on top of the one in six people who are on a normal basis or who experience it from time to time. So, this is going to be a process that’s going to take twelve, eighteen, twenty-four months for South Georgia to get over,” says McCall.

By: Damon Jones