MACON, Ga. – Georgia Farm Bureau (GFB) members will gather on Jekyll Island Dec. 7-9 for the organization’s 88th annual convention. The convention theme is “Rise and Thrive,” and this will be the 61st time GFB has held its annual meeting on Jekyll Island, including every state convention held since 1976. Georgia Commissioner of Agriculture Tyler Harper, Georgia House Speaker …
Georgia Growers Tour Brazil’s Citrus Industry
A recent tour of Brazilian citrus provided Georgia growers with valuable information on how to capitalize on production amid huanglongbing (HLB) disease. Lindy Savelle, executive director of the Georgia Citrus Association and owner of JoNina Farm, was one of seven producers who attended the week-long tour this fall. One of the main observations was Brazil’s strong production despite the prevalence …
‘Frustrating Times’ for Georgia Pecan Growers
By Clint Thompson Pecan harvests are not panning out like Georgia growers expected and hoped for this harvest season. Lenny Wells, University of Georgia (UGA) Extension pecan specialist, said the crop was ‘light’ early into the harvest season. Georgia pecan grower Randy Hudson believes Georgia yields will fall below 100 million pounds this year. “We’ve had a beautiful harvest season. …
Whitefly Update in Georgia’s Fall Vegetables
By Clint Thompson Whitefly infestations are normally a problem for Georgia’s fall vegetable production. While they were noticeable this fall season, they weren’t as high as in recent years, says Stormy Sparks, University of Georgia Extension vegetable entomologist. “I don’t think the populations were as high. We always get high populations late in the year, but they didn’t show up …
Early Freeze Event Ends Georgia’s Fall Vegetable Season
By Clint Thompson Monday night’s sub-freezing temperatures in South Georgia impacted the region’s vegetable crop production. The effect of the impact varies from crop to crop, according to Tim Coolong, associate professor in the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. He discussed the early-season freeze event, which impacted crops planted in the summer and fall. “I think …
Strong Pumpkin Season in North Georgia
By Clint Thompson Pumpkin season is nearing its end for North Georgia producer Drew Echols, owner of Jaemor Farms. It’s been a strong season for growers like Echols. “Everything this year has been super, really good. We had a three-week really hot spell this summer, and it was kind of inopportune as far as, pumpkins don’t like hot weather when …
Winner, Winner: Georgia Farmer Named Southeastern Farmer of the Year
By Clint Thompson South Georgia vegetable farmer Kent Hamilton was named the Sunbelt Ag Expo Southeastern Farmer of the Year at the annual luncheon on Tuesday, the first day of the three-day Expo event in Moultrie, Georgia. Hamilton, chief executive officer of Southern Valley Fruit and Vegetable, Inc. in Norman Park, highlighted the attributes that have helped him succeed over …
Spotlight State: Georgia to Be Recognized at Sunbelt Expo
By Clint Thompson Georgia agriculture will be under the spotlight next week at the Sunbelt Ag Expo, scheduled for Oct. 14-16, in Moultrie, Georgia. Georgia will be this year’s Spotlight State, which allows Sunbelt attendees to visit the Spotlight State building and learn more about Georgia agriculture, the state’s No. 1 industry. “The Spotlight State is the hometown, the great …
Plant Diagnostic Facilities for Georgia Citrus Growers
The University of Georgia (UGA) has disease labs and clinics to help citrus producers determine what diseases are impacting their trees. Jonathan Oliver, UGA assistant professor and small fruits pathologist, highlights the diagnostic facilities that growers can take advantage of. “We have a lab in Tifton, the Plant Disease Clinic, that can accept samples from commercial citrus,” Oliver said. “We …
USDA Announces $531 Million in Grant Agreement to Cover Ag Losses in Georgia
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will provide more than $531 million in Congressionally mandated recovery assistance to Georgia farmers through a block grant agreement with the Georgia Department of Agriculture to help producers recover from Hurricane Helene. “Farmers and ranchers in Georgia have been hit hard and suffered significant economic …



















