Author Archives: John Holcomb

Georgia Bill Tackles Rural Vet Shortage with Loan Repayment Boost | House Bill 172 Explained

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Atlanta, GA |

For Georgia’s livestock producers, veterinary care isn’t a luxury—it’s essential. Yet as the number of large animal veterinarians continues to dwindle in rural areas, lawmakers are stepping in with a plan to help fill the gap. That effort is House Bill 172, a piece of legislation designed to strengthen an existing loan repayment program and make rural veterinary work a more accessible and sustainable career choice.

“Certainly there’s a recognized shortage of veterinarians, especially large animal vets in rural Georgia,” says Keri Riddick, Executive Director of the Georgia Veterinary Medical Association. “This bill is going to help incentivize veterinarians, especially those that have graduated less than ten years ago. Hopefully, we’ll see more of them coming into rural communities to practice food animal medicine and help out our producers and farmers.”

Currently, the program only covers one year of service at a time, requiring veterinarians to reapply annually. But thanks to HB 172, that’s about to change. Representative David Huddleston, who sponsored the bill, says extending the term to three years will help eliminate unnecessary barriers while encouraging long-term commitment to rural communities.

“It is an existing program right now, but basically it’s a one-year program that you have to reapply for each and every year afterwards,” explains Huddleston. “So what we want to do is take it from a one year to three year. You wouldn’t have to reapply—you’d just certify your area of work. And we also expanded the eligible communities from those with populations of 30,000 and below to 50,000 and below using 2020 census data. That change adds 118 additional counties that veterinarians can now serve.”

Under the revised program, veterinarians would commit to working in designated rural areas for three consecutive years—a move Huddleston believes could help solve the root issue.

“By going to three years, hopefully we get these individuals to serve in rural communities—and if they stay there for that time, they’ll often put roots down and make it their home,” he says. “That’s really what we’re hoping to see.”

One of the biggest roadblocks to rural veterinary careers is student debt. With average veterinary school loans ranging from $180,000 to $185,000, Riddick says financial pressures often push young professionals toward more lucrative urban positions.

“Veterinarians, regardless of what type of medicine they go into, often have significant student debt. And if you’re moving into a rural area, you don’t always have the same salary or bonus programs that urban practices can offer,” Riddick explains. “Creating a financial incentive to move into these amazing communities—it’s a lifestyle choice. But they still need to be able to pay off their loans. Over the course of three years, this bill allows for repayment of up to $100,000 in student debt, which can certainly help.”

For Georgia’s farmers, the bill represents more than just financial aid for veterinarians—it’s a lifeline that could ensure quality care for the animals they depend on every day.

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.

Irrigation Readiness: Why Georgia Farmers Must Act Now Ahead of a Dry Season

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Tifton, GA |

It’s no secret that water is the most valuable commodity for the tens of thousands of farmers around Georgia. And with a drier than normal growing season in the forecast, having a reliable source from day one is essential to maximizing yield.

“If we get up and get to going and it’s dry like that, every day that we that lose, every day that we’re behind is another day that our crop’s losing yield potential. So, what we want to make sure is that we first have good uniformity on that system. And if we’ve not checked uniformity on that system in the past five years, we should really consider doing that. Once, you’re confident that the system’s uniform and doing well, then it’s time to make sure that we’re utilizing some sort of advanced irrigation scheduling to match the crop in that season, whether it’s the UGA checkbook, whether it’s the soil moisture sensor, or whether it’s some sort of irrigation scheduling app, etc. to match what we need during the season,” says Wes Porter, Extension Precision Ag.

Getting an early start on that troubleshooting is of utmost importance this year, after farmers saw an anything but mild winter.

“We had some unusually cooler weather this year in Georgia and in South Georgia, where we had days in the twenties that we normally don’t have. And even in the lower twenties as you move up the state. Maybe even temperatures in the teens. If we didn’t do a good job of draining those systems and getting all that water out, we probably are going to find some issues, residual from that cold temperature and those cold weather. So, we want to make sure that we can help address those now, prior to needing it on the crop,” says Porter.

As for those debating whether or not irrigation pivots are worth the investment, Porter says it all depends on your situation.

“It’s costly now. The prices of everything have went up, but it’s also costly when we have those episodic droughts that move in, and we lose your potential. And so, irrigation is still very valid and the investment in irrigation is worthwhile. You just maybe need to do some homework like this on system design, water source, dealer support, what tech package you want on it, etc. that will help you make that final decision,” says Porter.

If that decision is yes, then there are a number of factors that need to be considered before choosing which system to go with.

“Check water source first. Then go look at it and say, okay, what do I need? What crop am I going to be irrigating? How am I going to design it? What type of sprinklers do I want? Am I going to be doing fumigation or fertigation at all on it, etc? Do I want the remote monitor and control? And to me, what really goes back to, have three or four really good brands of center pivots that you can buy in the state of Georgia. You just need to go to your local dealer that works best in your area,” says Porter.

With how much these systems have developed over just the past decade, operating them has never been easier.

“I think one of the biggest advancements we have now is remote monitoring and control. We have other options on them, but really, a lot of our farmers have adopted a remote monitoring control because now we can see, ‘hey, I’ve started my system up. Is it still running all night?’ Because we can’t run systems in four hours and be done,” says Porter.

By: Damon Jones

Georgia’s Pine Tree Reforestation Process Explained | Planting for a Thriving Timber Future

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Milledgeville, GA |

Here in Baldwin County, these guys are hard at work hand planting pine trees – a crucial step in Georgia’s reforestation process. However, that process isn’t an easy one – in fact it’s a multi-step process that foresters across the state follow closely, starting with clearing out the competition, giving the seedlings the best chance to survive.

“So after a clear cut, you’ve got all this influx of sunlight that’s going to get a lot of things growing that weren’t growing when it wasn’t a forested stand, so you’ve got to get rid of all that competing vegetation or it’s going to outcompete your pine trees, and you’re going to have poor survival. So they do a broadcast chemical treatment that kills all that vegetation and then so you let that chemical work for about two months and then you’re ready to actually put the trees in the ground during the winter time. So the time frame on those steps are, the chemical site treatment is in the summer, you’re going to do your burning in the fall, roughly two months after the chemical treatment, and then you’re going to plant the trees,” says Jason McMullen, Management Forester with the Georgia Forestry Commission.

According to McMullen, once the site is ready, the Winter is the most ideal time of year for planting, as the moist soil allows the seedlings to take root.

“Generally, you know, it’s wet in the winter and it’s cool. You’re going to get the trees in the ground while there’s plenty of moisture, and they have time to start spreading the roots and getting established before it turns dry in the spring and summer. We are planting containerized seedlings here, so they’re going to be more drought resistant versus bare root seedlings, but it just helps them get established before it gets hot and dry in the summer,” says McMullen.

From there, McMullen says management is the key to success, as the ultimate goal is ensuring the trees are able to thrive.

“Our next potential step would be in the spring doing a herbaceous weed control treatment. That’s a follow up chemical treatment to knock back any weeds or competing vegetation that may try to come up this spring. After that, with loblolly pine, you really just let them grow for about fifteen years, and then you’re going to be looking at doing your first commercial thinning operation,” says McMullen.

According to McMullen however, while the timing and technique are important parts of the process, it’s the big picture that matters most to Georgia’s forestry industry, and is one that’s typically misunderstood.

“I have people ask me about are we running out of trees? Why are you cutting down the trees? The trees, they are a crop. They’re planted for the purpose of harvesting. So the bigger issue is if you were to clear cut something and not putting it back. Here, replanting trees, that’s being a good steward of the land; getting the land back in a productive state and helping our thriving timber economy continue to thrive,” says McMullen.

By: John Holcomb

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

Georgia Hay Producers Face Challenges After Brutal 2024 | What to Expect in 2025

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Tifton, GA |

Spring has officially sprung here in Georgia which means hay fields and pastures across the state will be starting to flourish, signaling a new production year for forage producers. According to Lisa Baxter, State Forage Extension Specialist, it’s a sight many producers are excited to see after the terrible year they had in 2024.

“In short, 2024 was not the here for forages in not just Georgia, the whole southeast. We were way too wet in the spring and led to a lot of disease issues really early on that unfortunately, we don’t have chemical options for within the forage industry. Going into summer, we pivoted hard. We went way to dry for way too long for warm season perennial production. Had some easement later in the year through the tropical storms and hurricanes, but even then it was a lot of rain at one time, and then nothing for six plus weeks for a lot of areas. Those of them up at producers up in North Georgia lost a lot of stockpile potential in their fescue because that fall drought for them, where the hurricanes missed a lot of those areas, it just, it didn’t happen,” says Lisa Baxter, State Forage Specialist.

One huge and unexpected issue producers had this year was fall army worms, which were spotted in nearly every county in the state, which according to Baxter, really hurt producers’ bottom lines.

“Our insecticide costs, pastures, hay fields, every variety cultivar we have out there; it hit them all. So that was a much bigger expense going into our forages than most producers have ever had before,” says Baxter.

According to Baxter, unfortunately, due to last year’s issues, 2025 doesn’t bring much optimism, at least so far, as inputs, such as seed and fertilizer, are expected to remain high for producers.

“There are certain species and varieties that I’ve heard are going to be a little more limited on the seed side this year because of weather challenges out west, but that’s again, a wait and see kind of kind of game there. We just don’t know what the demand is for those products every year. With row crop prices being very high, I’m hearing a lot of pivots wanting to be put into forage production. So that, in my mind, is going to increase that demand beyond our typical producer base. Then on the input side, fertilizer, it’s expensive as always. I know it goes up and down, but there and we can’t cut it out, especially in a hayfield,” says Baxter.

According to Baxter, a big issue that’s followed producers into this year is the availability of hay, as stockpiles were diminished due to forage grazing either being limited or non-existent.

“There just wasn’t as much hay produced because of all of those challenges. If you had an area that you couldn’t do fall stockpile a lot of areas couldn’t get winter grazing in that put additional strain on those already limited hay reserves and coming into 2025, I’m hearing a lot of producers that have empty hay barns. They’re ready for summer to be here and it’s not here yet. So, our guidance through UGA extension would be we’ve got to manage that stocking right early, balance it with our forage availability and match our herd size accordingly,” says Baxter.

By: John Holcomb

Inside Georgia’s Student-Run Meat Processing Plant | A New Model for Ag Education & Food Security

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Gainesville, GA |

Some of the top agricultural leaders, not just in the state, but the entire country, were on hand to get a first-hand look at this new student run meat processing facility at the Hall County Agribusiness Center. It’s a brand-new space with top-of-the-line equipment that needless to say, left everyone very impressed.

“If we could just take this and multiply it across this country, there’d be a lot of young people that have a different appreciation for the food and how gets to the grocery store. When your children learn about it, they teach your parents about it. So, it’s really a fantastic facility. What a way to really let people start their life knowing where their food comes from and how valuable it is to them and how difficult sometimes it is to get it there,” says Zippy Duvall, President of American Farm Bureau.

That’s especially true with meat processing, as a lack of operations, especially in smaller communities, was the idea behind this three-year project.

“One of the things that we believe here locally is that we are in the middle of a crisis in terms of our protein supply, that it has become all multinational. And so, with some support of some key leaders in the state of Georgia and the usage of some Covid funding, we have brought a fully operational commercial processing plant that students and their teacher run here in Gainesville, Georgia,” says Will Schofield, Superintendent of Hall County Schools.

For the most part, this facility serves as a closed, self-sustainable operation as all the meat coming through is both locally sourced and consumed.

“We raise the animals in the community. We get our hogs from the University of Georgia. We process it here locally, and then it goes back into this community. We are the largest food supplier in the Hall County proper, which is a community of about two hundred and forty thousand people, but we serve twenty-five thousand meals a day in our local school food service programs. So, a lot of the ground beef, a lot of the pork will go right back into school food lunches. We also have sales for local individuals. We do custom work for local farmers. So, what we process here, ninety nine percent of it gets consumed in Hall County,” says Schofield.

However, the impact of this program will be felt far beyond the Hall County borders, as it will provide a much-needed boost to the agricultural workforce.

“Kids think they all have to go to college and get a four-year degree. And that’s wonderful. We need people to do that, but there’s so many opportunities out there, well-paying opportunities for people to go in different directions and do the work that this country has been developed on, and built on, work that you do with your hands and your brain. This is a good way to introduce kids into all the different opportunities in a job, careers in agriculture,” says Duvall.

“We’ve got a Board of Education, we’ve got a community that wants young people to know that agribusiness, at least in Georgia, especially in Hall County, where seventy percent of our GDP is agribusiness, that agribusiness, absolutely is an economic engine. And we better appreciate it because we all sit down at the table every night and we take advantage of the bounty that agribusiness produces for us,” says Schofield.

By: Damon Jones

Georgia Bill Aims to Protect Farmers’ Access to Crop Tools | Senate Bill 144 Explained

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Atlanta, GA |

Each and every day, farmers and producers across the country work to produce the food and fiber we all need and depend on – with tools they need and depend on, and thanks to lawmakers in Atlanta, those tools are one step closer to being protected by state law as Senate Bill 144 has passed through the General Assembly and is now headed to the Governor’s desk.

“It’s a labeling bill and we’re basically, we’ve got a failure to warn clause in there, and we’re just saying that the manufacturers of products could not put anything on the label other than what EPA allows them to put on the label. At the end of the day, the EPA is the final say so. They’re the ones that do the research on top of what the manufacturers are doing to make sure products are safe. So, it’s truly a labeling bill – the label is the law. The EPA is in control of that and the federal government. So we’re just stating that in the bill and it’s just a failure to warn clause and that the EPA is the final say so in that,” says Senator Sam Watson from Georgia’s 11th District.

Though the bill only addresses labels, it assures farmers they’ll continue to have vital access to technologies they depend on.

“Currently, there is only one manufacturer of glyphosate in the United States. So they’ve obviously had difficulties with this failure to warn claim, so when you start talking about food security, food safety, and farmers livelihoods; trait technology is an important tool that we have in our toolbox as farmers and we couldn’t farm without all of the trait technologies and the use of herbicides, insecticides, and pesticides in general,” says Watson.

Watson, who is a producer himself, says these tools are essential to their operations now more than ever, as rising costs require them to be as efficient as possible – something that wouldn’t be the case without those trait technologies.

“I’m more on the vegetable side, and we have to use a lot of hand labor. H-2A just went up another two dollars an hour and so we use herbicides to help control weeds in our crops. So it became an issue of, is this product going to be around for the future generations to use? And are we going to have this tool in the toolbox? If you go to your local hardware store or your local Home Depot or Lowe’s, I don’t think you’re going to find glyphosate on the shelf because it’s been removed from the shelf. That active ingredient has already been removed. So, that’s where the fear from agriculture came, that what else is going to come off the shelf?,” says Watson.

Beyond protecting American agriculture, Watson believes the bill also safeguards American manufacturing and ultimately national security.

“The Chinese manufacture a lot of these products and if we have to buy it from the Chinese to feed Americans and to stay in business, then we’re probably going to get it from the Chinese. When there’s a problem, how do you go after someone in another country? We want to make sure that we protect American manufacturing and especially American manufacturing of these products,” says Watson.

By: John Holcomb

Why U.S. Beef is Booming: Inside the Cattle Industry’s Record-Breaking Year

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Augusta, GA |

With the average American eating nearly sixty pounds of beef per year, the US ranks second per capita in worldwide consumption. Pair that with domestic prices reaching record levels in 2024, and confidence within the industry is at an all-time high.

“The optimism right now in the cattle industry is the best I’ve ever seen and I’m sixty-eight years old. So, we are in a really good time, really good markets. So, we have a good reason to be optimistic. The conditions are ripe for continued prosperity on cattle farms and also, and more importantly, conditions are right for consumers to continue to enjoy the finest protein product that’s available in the market today,” says James Vaughn, President of the Georgia Cattlemen’s Association.

That excellence is best exemplified by the rising demand for beef products despite that higher price tag.

“It absolutely speaks to the quality of the product. There’s just very little low-quality product anymore. As the cattle numbers have shrunk, the quality of the cattle, percentage wise has risen dramatically. The product that people find, whether you’re in a restaurant or in your grocery store, is exceptional these days,” says Vaughn.

However, with production expected to rise in the coming years, maintaining these types of prices will depend on opening up new markets for the cattlemen.

“That needs to be a high priority for producers. There are hoops you have to jump through sometimes to get product like in the EU or someplace, but they’re not that difficult. It’s a little learning curve. You figure out how to do it, and you keep moving products all over the world and creating demand for good American beef,” says Vaughn.

It’s why attending events like the annual Georgia Cattlemen’s Association Conference is essential as it keeps producers up to date on the latest issues affecting the industry.

“If you are a cattle producer yourself, you want to make money from it. So, staying on top of the latest trends is going to help you do that and also, staying engaged with legislative policies that will affect us helps us protect farmland and ensure that you can continue to produce cattle for years and generations to come,” says Caroline Waldrep, Events and Outreach Coordinator for the Georgia Cattlemen’s Association.

It’s a future that appears to be in good hands with the next generation showing increased interest in getting into the business.

“We are definitely shifting as a generation for sure into young people wanting to get back onto the farm. Wanting to either take over their grandparent’s farm or wanting to purchase farmland themselves. So, I think definitely, there’s a lot of optimism for youth and young people wanting to move into the cattle industry in 2025 and in the years to come,” says Waldrep.

With government policy affecting so much of what happens on these farms, becoming a member of this association has an obvious benefit.

“Strength in numbers for sure. I think the number one reason is definitely to protect cattle production for years to come. And if you have those numbers, the legislators definitely look at you as an ally and as an asset and want to protect your interests,” says Waldrep.

By: Damon Jones

Georgia Farmers Head to D.C. to Fight for Ag Policy Reform | Farm Bill, Labor & National Security

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Washington, D.C. |

From the moment they touched down in our nation’s capital, Georgia Farm Bureau legislative staff, Directors, and County Presidents got to work advocating for the ag industry – something GFB President, Tom McCall says is central to the organization’s mission, especially at a time with so much hanging in the balance for farmers and producers across the country.

“When they can hear from actual producers of some of the concerns that they have and what the Congress needs to be doing to help agriculture survive, not only in Georgia, especially in Georgia, but not only in Georgia, but the whole country, and get the point across that after military, food supply is the national security issue,” says Tom McCall, President of Georgia Farm Bureau.

“Main reason we’re here is to promote agriculture, talk about agriculture and what we’re facing as the state of Georgia and farmers. It’s very important for us to be up here communicating these things that we need to the people that might not get to see it every day. So, this has given us a platform to speak on behalf of the Georgia farmer,” says Brian Fleming, President of Hart County Farm Bureau.

As mentioned, the trip couldn’t have come at a better time, as producers across Georgia and the nation are struggling as a host of ag related issues continue to threaten their livelihoods; the two most pressing concerns being labor and the desperate need for an updated farm bill.

“Obviously, number one is this farm bill. We’ve been rolling on the same farm bill for seven years now. 2018 feels ancient, so that farm bill is basically an antique now. We need to see modernized farm programs, whether it’s reference prices, crop insurance products or changes to credit and additional funds to conservation Title. We need to see those improvements, ” says Ben Parker, National Affairs Coordinator.

“Number two, especially for the state of Georgia, is we’ve got to address this labor issue. It is far too costly, nothing makes sense and where we’re seeing these annual AEWR rates increase at seemingly random points. Seven and a half percent increase here. Fourteen percent increase here, and then this last year, we saw a nine and a half percent increase to over sixteen dollars an hour. I think finally, people are starting to see that these random increases in wage rates are only detrimental to ag and not just AG in Georgia, but poses national security risk for everyone that uses it,” says Parker.

Though they may not see the direct impact of this trip right away, Fleming says he believes the trip will pay dividends in the long run – and will hopefully make an impact back home on the farm.

“You might not see it right away, but getting what we need out, the support that we need and being able to talk to these people that we don’t need to see every day and actually see them take interest in it and understand what we’re saying that’s going on, it makes a big difference, and I think in the long run, we will see the benefits and things like this back at home,” says Fleming.

By: John Holcomb