By Clint Thompson
The opening of the University of Georgia (UGA) Grand Farm in early May provides hope to specialty crop producers that innovative technologies could one day replace costly labor expenses that are negating potential profits.
One fruit grower believes in its mission and helped provide legislative support for the research site, located adjacent to the Perry Fairgrounds.
“I think we have to have it,” said Robert Dickey, producer in Musella, Georgia, who serves as a State Representative in central Georgia and was present at the Grand Farm’s groundbreaking. “If we’ve got a good, profitable future for agriculture in the state, we’ve got to come up with new, labor-saving quality type of innovation that this facility I hope will foster and produce for growers.”
Research Site
The 250-acre research site will serve as a breeding ground for ag innovation. Ag research, representing row crop commodities to specialty crops, and companies from across the world, is set up to put Georgia on the Ag innovation map.
The research that will be highlighted will also be contingent upon grower needs. It is a challenging time for farmers who must contend with rising input costs and steady, if not declining, commodity prices. Labor remains the costliest expense, because fruit and vegetable growers must implement a reliable workforce to harvest their crops.
Florida employs the most H-2A workers in the country with 47,396 certified positions in 2024, at an adverse effect wage rate (AEWR) of $16.23. It represents a 9.9% increase from the previous year. Georgia was second in certified positions with 43,436, while Alabama increased to 2,153 positions. Georgia and Alabama’s AEWR was recorded at $16.08, an increase of 9.5%.
“Our labor costs and input costs, especially for peaches and strawberries, things that I grow, are just skyrocketing. I’m very interested in what might come out of this collaboration we have here. It’s very promising,” Dickey said.