James_September-October_2026_web - Flipbook - Page 98
many of the challenges they face
are inherent to the task at hand,
farmers need communities that
support them, not create barriers
for their operations.
Georgia Farm Bureau was
founded in 1937 to be the voice
of Georgia farmers. We strive to
advocate for a legislative and regulatory environment that supports
farmers, without overburdening
them with unpredictable and
unrealistic policies. Our advocacy
is built upon a grassroots membership, spanning all 159 counties in
Georgia. Georgia Farm Bureau is
united alongside the other 49 state
Farm Bureaus under the American
Farm Bureau Federation, the nation’s largest agriculture advocacy
organization in Washington DC.
Whether it is in a local community,
under the Gold Dome, or in the
halls of our nation’s capitol, farmers can be confident their interest
is being represented.
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Advocating for farmers can
happen in many different ways
and reaches far past the fence
row. The most impactful action
all Georgians can take is by supporting policymakers who champion agriculture. This November,
as voters prepare to head to the
ballot box and make their voices
heard, we encourage all Georgians
to consider how they can support
farmers through their vote. From
the statewide races at the top of
the ticket to the ballot questions
at the bottom, every box checked
will impact the future of family
farms in Georgia.
Notably, this year voters will
have the opportunity to protect
working farmland by voting to
increase the cap on land eligible for
the Conservation Use Value Assessment, CUVA, program. The question will read “Shall the Constitution
of Georgia, for the purpose of protecting family farmland, be amended so
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as to increase the maximum acreage
to qualify for assessment and taxation as a bona fide conservation use
property from 2,000 acres to 4,000
acres?” By voting YES, Georgians
will be conserving family farms,
encouraging landowners to keep
farmland in production, protecting
the bottom line of producers and,
importantly, providing ecological
value to communities.
Georgia Farm Bureau encourages all voters to side with farmers,
protecting the most important industry in our state, and promoting
the longevity of family farms from
the coastline to the mountains. By
sending strong advocates to Atlanta and Washington D.C. who are
committed to working on behalf of
farmers, Georgia will continue to
provide the food, fiber and shelter
we all depend on.
Adam Belflower is the State Affairs Manager
of the Georgia Farm Bureau.
