“We are extremely thankful for the work of the General Assembly during last week’s special session and appreciate the Governor’s quick signature to the amended budget that provides roughly $270 million towards critical support for our agricultural sector and rural communities after Georgia’s worst natural disaster. Our farmers in Georgia are proud of their contributions to the state’s economy as …
Commissioner Black Testifies to International Trade Commission on NAFTA 2.0 Concerns
Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Gary W. Black traveled to Washington, DC to testify on behalf of the Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association (GFVGA) regarding the damage NAFTA has done to Georgia’s produce industry. The hearing was held for the International Trade Commission to gather information on the likely impact of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) if approved by Congress. This …
Black Discusses Hurricane Michael Damage to Georgia Farms
The 2018 Sunbelt Ag Expo is officially underway in Moultrie, Georgia, but the big topic of discussion for many is what agriculture is currently dealing with in the aftermath of Hurricane Michael. Southeast AgNet’s Randall Weiseman caught up with Georgia Commissioner of Agriculture Gary Black to discuss some of the crop damage he has seen so far. Black Discusses Hurricane Michael …
Commissioner Black Gets First Glimpse of Hurricane Michael’s Damage
Agriculture Commissioner Gary W. Black got his first glance of the devastation left behind by Hurricane Michael during a brief flyover on Friday with Director of the Georgia Forestry Commission Chuck Williams. “Unfortunately, our worst thoughts were realized, “said Commissioner Black. “We saw months and sometimes years of work just laid over on the ground in a matter of seconds.” Pecan …
Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Applauds Efforts to Assist Farmers Affected by Tariffs
Agriculture Commissioner Gary W. Black is applauding action taken by the Trump Administration to assist farmers who have been hurt by recent trade disputes. “We look forward to learning more regarding the assistance announced today,” Commissioner Black said. “We believe this is a good short-term solution for our farmers who have long-suffered from unfair trade practices from many of our …
2018 Georgia Grown Farm to School Program Selections
Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Gary W. Black is pleased to announce the latest schools selected to participate in Georgia Grown’s farm to school programs, including the Feed My School for a Week program, the Georgia Grown Test Kitchen program and schools receiving System of Distinction awards. Commissioner Black believes that the schools selected are the driving force of Georgia’s farm to …
Georgia Blueberry Growers Suffer Second Consecutive Year of Loss
Commissioner Gary W. Black hosted a conference call to connect Georgia blueberry growers and agricultural industry representatives with USDA Under-secretary Bill Northey to discuss recent loss assessments for the 2018 blueberry crop. According to University of Georgia Extension, overall losses of both highbush and rabbiteye varieties could exceed 60 percent. This would mark the second consecutive year of significant loss …
Commissioner Gary W. Black Commends the 2018-2019 Georgia FFA State Officer Team
Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Gary W. Black would like to congratulate the 2018-2019 Georgia State FFA Officer Team that was elected Saturday, April 28 by delegates from over 300 FFA chapters. The eight member officer team will serve throughout the next year as advocates of agricultural education and the Georgia FFA Association. “These young men and women have demonstrated significant leadership …
Farm Bill Roundtable Discussion Held in South Georgia
David Perdue, U.S. Senator from Georgia and a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, held a roundtable discussion on the 2018 farm bill last Friday in Tifton, Georgia. Tyron Spearman talked with him about some of the issues brought up during the discussion. Tyron Spearman talking with David Perdue The roundtable discussion was moderated by Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Gary Black, …
Vidalia Onions to Arrive in Stores After April 20
Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Sets Official Pack Date Gather your favorite spring and summer recipes, Vidalia® onion fans! The Georgia Department of Agriculture and the Vidalia Onion Committee announced that the pack date for the 2018 Vidalia Onion season is 8:00 a.m. Friday, April 20, 2018. Beloved by world-renowned chefs and home cooks alike, the versatile Vidalia will be available in …