Georgia Producer is National Outstanding Young Farmer Finalist

Randall Weiseman Corn, Cotton, Field Crops, General, Georgia, Industry News Release, Peanuts

Christopher and Ginger Martin

Christopher and Ginger Martin

Christopher and Ginger Martin from Hawkinsville, Georgia are one of ten finalists for the 2015 National Outstanding Young Farmers awards which will be presented this weekend in Cherry Hill, New Jersey.


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Click here to learn more about the National Outstanding Young Farmers Awards Program.

From the NOYF:

With a history of family farming that dates back to 1820 as well as college degrees in ag business and business administration, Christopher Martin had a strong foundation on which to build a successful agri-consulting enterprise. Through his thriving business, he was serving 13,000 acres across nine counties when he knew it was time to switch gears. “It is impossible to explain why I wanted to farm so badly,” says Christopher. “I simply always knew I would.”

Fueled by that determination, Christopher and his wife, Ginger, sold their family home and began a new career in production agriculture 12 years ago. They grow cotton, corn, wheat, peanuts, and rye on 3,400 acres near Hawkinsville, Georgia. Along with raising their two children, Grantson, 19, and Wellsley, 17, Christopher and Ginger have engaged in many community and
agricultural organizations including the chamber of commerce, board of the Heart of Georgia Peanut and Gin, Farm Bureau, county recreation department, athletic booster club, Relay for Life, church, community blessing of the crops,
United Way, PTO, and Play Day Pals, a private learning and childcare program for preschool.

Community involvement is a priority for Christopher, but he considers farm innovation to be his passion. His farm has hosted extensive research, development, and plot testing for state agencies and private companies. The studies include a “rolling rye” pilot program through the NRCS with an objective to provide sunlight-blocking ground cover to diminish the germination of pigweed during primary crop planting.

Ensuring that his farm is environmentally and economically sound is a primary goal for Christopher. A thousand of his acres are enrolled in the CSP program through NRCS, and he voluntarily placed all his farmable acres under the exact same requirements of cover crops, low drift spray nozzles, split nitrogen application, and irrigation monitors. His conscientious farming methods earned him the title of district Soil Conservationist of the Year in 2004, and he is one of 20 farmers nationwide to participate in a five-year soil quality study.

In 2009, Christopher was one of four Georgia farmers selected for the Peanut Leadership Academy. He traveled across the country to tour farms and research facilities and met with Congress members to gain support for the peanut program and debate the Farm Bill. His ambitions recently reached new heights when he obtained his private pilot’s license, which he plans to utilize in an agri-air business.