James_September-October_2026_web - Flipbook - Page 97
rom the low
country coastline to the
foothills of the
Appalachian
Mountains,
Georgia’s natural landscape is dominated by working farmland. These
farms feed, clothe and shelter the
world, and they are the economic
engine powering our state.
Agriculture has always been
our state’s largest economic sector,
contributing $100 billion to the
economy in 2025. The commodities that make up this staggering
number are diverse. Whether its
traditional row crops, fruits and
vegetables, livestock and poultry,
forestry, or one of the many other
unique commodities like turf grass,
aquaculture, or ornamentals, there
are farm families in every community that form the backbone of our
state. These same farm families are
the lifeblood to many other industries providing good paying jobs
and tax revenue to build vibrant
communities— freight and logistics,
manufacturing, retail, financial
services and all the various infrastructure required to get raw farm
commodities out of the field into
the hands of consumers.
There has been no more
important time than right now for
farmers to have a strong advocate.
Farm families are experiencing record high inflation on farm inputs,
diminishing commodity markets,
development pressure from residential and industrial growth,
historical natural disasters and an
aging workforce. In 2026, cost estimates for fuel and fertilizer prices
are expected to increase 41 and 13
percent respectively-- higher than
last year. While the cost of farm
inputs skyrocket, commodity
prices for major row crop
commodities still hover
at historically low levels. Over the
past four decades, our state has
lost 1.5 million acres of working
land to various types of development. The average age of a farmer
in Georgia has continued to climb
to almost 60 years old. Hurricanes,
droughts, tornadoes, and even
severe cold can deplete a bumper
crop in a matter of hours, and this
alone displays the resiliency that
farm families display everyday.
Every season, they plant the seed,
raise the animal, and yield the
harvest praying for good weather,
a strong market and the safety for
all their workers. Amidst these
challenges, they remain resilient to
do it year after year and, for many,
generation after generation.
It is imperative farmers have
an advocate on their behalf. While
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