Georgia

GDA Produce Safety Alliance April Virtual Training Session

Dan Coronavirus, Field Crops, Fruits, Georgia, Specialty Crops, Vegetables

The Georgia Department of Agriculture (GDA) wants producers to know they have scheduled another 2-day virtual Produce Safety Alliance Grower Training. According to GDA Produce Safety Education and Outreach Coordinator Maggie Brown, sign up for that virtual training is underway. This Grower Training Course satisfies the FSMA Produce Safety Rule requirement that requires at least one supervisor or responsible party for your farm must have …

seed coat

Statement Regarding Seed Coat Fragments in Cotton Produced in the Southeast

Dan Cotton, Georgia, Industry News Release, USDA-APHIS

(USDA/AMS) — U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue has directed the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) to collaborate with the Georgia Department of Agriculture to raise awareness and further examine the significant increase in seed coat fragments in cotton produced in the southeast region. Thus far in the 2020 cotton season, the AMS Macon, GA Classing …

georgia

Georgia Produce Safety Program Holds Virtual Training

Dan Education, Georgia

The Georgia Department of Agriculture (GDA) Produce Safety Team held their first ever virtual two-day Produce Safety Alliance Grower Training via Zoom last month. Maggie Brown, GDA produce safety education and outreach coordinator, told Southeast AgNet’s Randall Weiseman it went very well. For more information go to their website, georgiaproducesafety.com.

georgia agriculture

Georgia Agriculture Tax Exemption (GATE) Program Renewal Now Open

Dan Economy, Georgia

(GDA) — Annual renewal for the Georgia Agriculture Tax Exemption (GATE) program is now open.   Eligible farmers can renew their GATE card for 2021 online starting Friday, November 6, 2020, by visiting https://forms.agr.georgia.gov/GATE/. GATE cardholders who are to renew in 2021 will automatically be placed on the new three-year renewal program and will receive their renewal invoice in 2024.   All current …

georgia

Georgia Farm Recovery Block Grant Application Guide OPEN!

Dan Economy, Georgia, Industry News Release

(GFVGA) — At the end of February, Governor Kemp announced details surrounding the $347 million in federal block grant funds that the state has secured to combat the devastation incurred by Hurricane Michael. The state will began accepting applications for block grant funds.  Georgia farmers and forest landowners in 95 eligible counties (see map below), who suffered losses to beef, dairy, …

hemp

Georgia Submits Revised Industrial Hemp Plan and Rules

Dan Georgia, Hemp, Industry News Release

In response to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) promulgation of the interim final rule governing the production of hemp under the 2018 farm bill on Oct. 31, 2019, the Georgia Department of Agriculture (GDA) has submitted an updated “Georgia Hemp Plan” to comply with USDA’s requirements. View the plan here. Pursuant to the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, O.C.G.A. …

georgia pecans

Georgia Pecans Enter Taiwanese Markets

Dan Exports/Imports, Georgia, Industry News Release, Pecans, Specialty Crops

GDA Expands Trade Efforts (GDA) — More than 51,000 pounds of Georgia pecans are headed to Taiwan and are expected to enter retail stores by mid-December. The pecan export purchased from a grower in Ocilla, Georgia is a direct result of bilateral trade efforts between Georgia and Taiwan. During October, Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Gary W. Black joined representatives from the Georgia Pecan Growers …

Local Food Purchase Assistance

Georgia Growers Learn About Produce Safety Rule

Dan Field Crops, Georgia, Vegetables

The Georgia Department of Agriculture (GDA) has been working hard to get information out to produce growers about the Produce Safety Rule. Farm Safety Education and Outreach Associate Elizabeth Stalvey says that included spending time at the Sunbelt Ag Expo in Moultrie last month. Growers with more questions about inspections, on-farm readiness reviews and training can visit georgiafarmsafety.com.

georgia produce safety

Offering Produce Safety On-Farm Readiness Reviews in Georgia

Dan General, Georgia

The Georgia Department of Agriculture’s Farm Safety Program continues to help produce farmers across the state with regulatory requirements under the Food Safety Modernization Act. Farm Safety Education and Outreach Coordinator Maggie Brown says the department is still offering on-farm readiness reviews and will soon have more training classes.