By Clint Thompson
Georgia specialty crop producers and industry leaders should mark their calendars for the annual Georgia Ag Forecast meeting, scheduled for Friday, Jan. 27, 2023, at the University of Georgia Tifton Campus Conference Center in Tifton, Georgia.
Amanda Smith, senior public service associate in the UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES), discussed what attendees can expect from next month’s meeting.
“Last year we had a bunch of volatility in input prices and some in commodity prices. Most everyone is aware that input prices increased significantly throughout 2022. We were able to make a profit last year because commodity prices were high, but the question is what will commodity prices do in 2023? That is one thing we hope to look at for the Georgia Ag Forecast this year; give an outlook on what the expectations are for 2023 in terms of commodities that we grow in Georgia,” Smith said.
Will Chambers, deputy chairperson for the World Agricultural Outlook Board, will provide the keynote address. There will also be breakout sessions for economists to present marketing trends and outline what growers can reasonably expect from next year’s production season.
Ben Campbell, UGA CAES associate professor, and Greg Fonsah, UGA CAES professor, will discuss horticulture production.
“A lot of it is to try to help growers figure out, what should I plant next year, keeping in mind crop rotations and expectations for prices coming up,” Smith said.
Registration and a light breakfast will be held at 7:30 a.m., with the program beginning at 8:30 a.m.