MACON, Ga. – Some 1,421 Georgia farmers and agribusiness leaders from across the state met on Jekyll Island Dec. 8-10 for the 87th Annual Georgia Farm Bureau (GFB) Convention. The three-day event included a trade show, awards presentations and educational sessions that briefed farmers on policy and production issues affecting Georgia’s major commodities.
Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp, Georgia Commissioner of Agriculture Tyler Harper, and American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall addressed convention delegates during the general session on Dec. 9.
GFB President Tom McCall delivered his annual address, and GFB Chief Administrative Office Jeffrey Harvey gave an update on the Weathered But Strong Hurricane Helene Relief Fund.
The convention’s theme, “Where You Belong,” emphasized the organization’s welcoming nature while marking the 60th time GFB has held its annual meeting on Jekyll Island.
McCall lauds GFB response to Hurricane Helene, charts course for future
Tom McCall highlighted the organization’s response to Hurricane Helene, noted an updated mission statement, and pledged to continue GFB’s commitment to leadership development and expanding membership.
Helene left about $5.5 billion in agricultural damage in Georgia, in addition to at least 33 deaths and massive catastrophic losses of personal property and public infrastructure.
McCall noted that GFB’s volunteers from across the state worked to help clear storm debris, provide food for humans and animals, and help fellow farmers to begin recovering.
“People’s lives will never be the same,” McCall said. “We have to depend on those around us who understand what we do. We have to continue leaning on each other!”
McCall announced an updated mission statement for the GFB Federation: As the voice of Georgia farmers, we will enhance the quality of life for producers and consumers by being the champion of agriculture.
“We haven’t wavered from our founding purpose 87 years ago: To provide leadership and assistance to farmers, and to ensure agriculture is a thriving business in the future,” McCall said.
McCall praised efforts to increase membership and pointed out that 87 of GFB’s 158 county chapters increased their membership over the past year. He said Georgia Farm Bureau’s work through its political action committee helped increase farmer representation in the Georgia General Assembly.
The GFB president thanked the membership for entrusting the organization’s legacy and success to him.
“Your dedication and passion inspire me every day,” McCall said. “Together, we can overcome the challenges that lie ahead, advocate for policies that benefit our members, and ensure the prosperity of Georgia’s agricultural community.”
Kemp urges federal government to fund Hurricane Helene disaster relief
Gov. Kemp discussed the devastating effect Hurricane Helene had on Georgia agriculture and urged Congress to pass disaster relief funding.
“Our top priority this upcoming year will be securing the needed relief for our farmers and communities impacted by the devastation of Hurricane. This was truly like no storm our state has ever seen with the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, placing the price tag of at least $5.5 billion on the preliminary damage to our agriculture and forestry industries alone,” Kemp said. “I continue to urge the current administration, the incoming administration, and those in Congress, to fund block grants to the states for disaster relief as quickly as possible.”
To help farmers and timber owners until federal aid is passed, the Georgia State Financing and Investment Commission approved redirecting $75 million to the Georgia Development Authority (GDA) to provide disaster relief loans to farmers hit by Hurricane Helene. The Georgia Department of Agriculture worked with the GDA to establish the SAFETY 24 loan program, which is now accepting loan applications on a first-come-first serve basis.
Farm operators who suffered losses from Hurricane Helene and reside in a FEMA designated disaster area (https://gis.fema.gov/maps/dec_4830.pdf ) or adjacent county are eligible to apply for up to $500,000 at a 2% fixed interest rate.
Eligible uses of these loan funds include income replacement, operating capitol, repairing or replacing damaged farm structures, repairing or replacing damaged equipment, and the purchase of machinery or equipment necessary to recover from hurricane damage.
To apply, visit https://www.gdaonline.com/hurricane-helene-loan-program/ for the application form, loss verification form and all application details.
Kemp, who has two years remaining in his second term as Georgia’s 83rd governor, outlined action he and state leaders have taken in recent years to support Georgia agriculture.
“We know the success of our state would not be possible without the number one industry in the state, agriculture, in our farming communities. This industry touches every aspect of the economy, and by its extension, every aspect of our own lives,” Kemp said. “That’s why ensuring this industry has the tools that it needs for success is always one of our top priorities.”
Kemp cited suspending the state motor fuel and diesel fuel tax during the 2023 fall harvest and again in the weeks after Hurricane Helene as examples of support state government has shown farmers.
“I was proud to sign legislation addressing many of the concerns you raised in recent years, including adding diesel exhaust fluid to the GATE (Georgia Agricultural Tax Exemption) program, increasing the penalty for livestock theft, expanding the definition of farm use vehicles, and putting new funding into the Department of Agriculture and Environmental Protection Division to help address backlogs, building new sheep, goat and swine barns at the National Fairgrounds, and supporting the Hunters for the Hungry program to help address nuisance deer populations by encouraging hunters to take more deer,” Kemp said.
Other highlights from this year include investing over $1.6 billion in Georgia Department of transportation projects statewide with 83% of projects being done outside the Metro Atlanta region to support rural economic development. Kemp said the state continues to invest in its ports to ensure producers can reach markets anywhere in the world.
Harper encourages farmers to seek help to deal with stress
Georgia Agricultural Commissioner Tyler Harper discussed the tough year farmers were having before Hurricane Helene hit, and the emotional impact the storm has had on Georgia farmers.
“Many farmers experienced a wet spring that led to late plantings or having to replant crops. Then it got really dry. We’ve got an ag economy that’s hurting from low commodity prices and high-input costs and a national ag trade deficit,” Harper said. “Hurricane Helene and Tropical Storm Debby have had a multigenerational impact that will take years to recover from. Almost a third of Georgia’s agricultural economic output was wiped out in one year.”
Harper encouraged farmers negatively affected by the storms to reach out to friends or take advantage of mental health resources offered by the Georgia Department of Behavioral & Developmental Disabilities. Anyone needing help may call or text 988 to reach a mental health crisis line that offers 24/7 counseling.
Other resources are available at https://agr.georgia.gov/mental-health-agriculture or https://www.supportgeorgiafarmers.org/resources-for-farmers .
“There’s a lot of uncertainty right now and it can take a toll on even the strongest of individuals. That’s why it’s important to be checking on each other,” Harper said.
He said the suicide rate among U.S. farmers is second only to U.S. veterans.
In addition to addressing the fallout from Helene, Harper said the department’s Law Enforcement & Emergency Management Division led by Harlan Proveaux is tackling drug traffickers using imported ag commodities to smuggle illegal drugs into Georgia. This year GDA law enforcement officers seized 2,500 pounds of meth in a shipment of celery that came into the state from Mexico and busted a marijuana operation in Pierce County valued at $25 million that was falsely operating in a fish facility.
The GDA continues to work to identify, trap and eradicate the Yellow-Legged Hornet that poses a threat to Georgia honeybees and the many crops they pollinate.
A nest of the invasive hornets was first detected in the U.S. in the Savannah area in Aug. 2023. Since then, 45 YLH nests have been eradicated in the Savannah area as of Oct. 24. The GDA has set up 1,171 traps in the Savannah area and coastal Georgia counties. For more information or to report a YLH siting, visit GDA’s Yellow-legged Hornet webpage https://agr.georgia.gov/yellow-legged-hornet .
Harvey: Weathered But Strong Hurricane Relief fund accepting applications
GFB Chief Administrative Officer Jeffrey Harvey encouraged farmers who suffered losses to Hurricane Helene to apply by midnight Dec. 31 to be considered for money the Weathered But Strong Georgia Hurricane Relief fund will begin distributing in February 2025.
All farming operations impacted by Hurricane Helene may apply, but priority will be given to farmers in counties declared to be in a disaster zone. Eligible farmers must hold a current, valid GATE card number issued through the Georgia Department of Agriculture. Farmers must submit their applications online through the Support Georgia Farmers website. To apply, please visit: www.supportgeorgiafarmers.org/application.
The relief fund was established by the Georgia Department of Agriculture (GDA), in partnership with the Georgia Foundation for Agriculture and with support from more than 40 agricultural partners. The fund aims to raise $1.5 million by Dec. 31 to provide direct financial aid to farmers impacted by the storm. Over $1 million has already been raised, and donations will be accepted until the end of December. To make a tax-deductible donation, please visit: www.supportgeorgiafarmers.org.
“Generations of hard work were gone overnight and unfortunately many of you experienced that,” Harvey said. “There’s never a good time for a storm like this, but Helene could not have come in a worst possible time considering our already shaky agricultural economy.”
Harvey assured members that GFB will continue to stand with them to ensure farmers’ voices
are heard at the state and national levels.
“Achieving excellence is not a destination. It’s a continuous process of improvements, striving
every day to be better than we were yesterday,” Harvey said.
Duvall says AFBF continues to fight for farm bill
AFBF President Zippy Duvall said AFBF will continue to push Congress to pass a new farm bill and noted analysis showing that without a new farm bill, between 20% and 25% of producers nationwide won’t get operating loans for 2025.
“They have to give us an economic package, because we don’t farm in 2018 anymore,” Duvall said referring to the last year Congress passed a farm bill.
The biggest issue facing American agriculture, Duvall said, is finding agricultural labor. He said the U.S. food system allows American citizens to be free because the nation does not have to depend on imported food sources.
“Everywhere I go farmers tell me, ‘I can’t find any labor. I want to expand. My child wants to come home from college and go into business with me.’ We’ve got to have a modernized guest worker program that is fair for farmers and to the people who come here to work for us, and one we can afford to pay for.”
Duvall said he looks across American agriculture and sees unlimited potential and resilience.
“I’ve seen resilience that lives in the heart of the American farmer,” Duvall said. “I promise you everywhere I go, they know I’m from Georgia and they say, ‘what can we do to help them?’ The Farm Bureau family is there to help you and show you the resilience within our organization and that’s what makes us great.”
Duvall emphasized the role county Farm Bureau presidents play, saying that they, along with county boards of directors, are the organization’s true value and strength.
“We accomplish what we accomplish because of what you do, which is so vitally important,” Duvall said of county presidents. “It is the most foundational position in this organization.”
About Georgia Farm Bureau
Founded in 1937, the Georgia Farm Bureau Federation is the state’s largest general farm organization with 158-chapter offices that cover all of Georgia’s 159 counties. As a membership-driven, nongovernmental organization, GFB serves as the voice of Georgia farmers and rural Georgia by advocating for them on legislative issues and promoting Georgia commodities. Its volunteer members actively participate in activities that promote agriculture awareness.
GFB membership is open to the public and offers a wide variety of benefits, including insurance and discounts for health services, travel and family entertainment. Enrollment in any of the member benefits is optional and not a requirement for membership. For more information about agriculture please visit www.gfb.org, like Georgia Farm Bureau on Facebook or follow GFB on Twitter.
–Jennifer Whittaker, Georgia Farm Bureau
