MOULTRIE — Colquitt County holds the top spot in production of vegetables in the state of Georgia, so it stands to reason local farmers will have an eye on the U.S. Senate next week as the farm bill, already passed in the House, goes to mark-up.
Specialty crop farmers haven’t asked for a subsidy program along the lines of the hotly debated programs of cotton or peanuts that benefit individuals.
“I think the handwriting is on the wall as far as subsidy payments go. That is going to be much more difficult to acquire from that standpoint. Our growers are used to farming on the open market and let the market handle the issues of overproduction or pricing,” said Charles Hall, executive director of the Georgia Fruit and Vegetables Association. “That has not been an issue for us. What has been an issue is that we have not been a part of some of the foreign policy in recognizing specialty crops as a major commodity for the state.”
What produce growers did want was research money through block grants to the state that would help the competitiveness of U.S. fruits and vegetables in the world marketplace, Hall said.
The nutrition portion of the farm bill, which some legislators in the House couldn’t support because of its expense, includes the food stamp program and the school lunch program.
One of the most successful programs has been the fresh fruit and vegetable snacks provided in public schools, Hall said. The nutrition portion of the farm bill would increase funding of that program. Aside from an additional market for U.S.-grown crops, it also provides a learning experience for children that they can eat a healthful carrot for a snack, perhaps, instead of a bag of chips or candy bar, Hall said.
“It will very interesting for us how this will shake out. We were very happy with the House version. We’ve been very supportive of ag research for specialty crops, and there’s been a fairly significant increase in funding for our research projects,” he said.
More and more, Georgia lawmakers have been preaching that agriculture is tantamount to national security. The Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Association agrees.
“We definitely do. You need to look at how fruits and vegetables are produced — the level of regulations we’re faced with, both from a labor standpoint and from a regulatory standpoint with the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) and other regulatory areas. We wind up tending to put burdens on the grower, and I’m not saying that we shouldn’t be protecting our environment or protecting our labor forces, but what will happen eventually is that production will move out of the United States and into third world countries,” Hall said. “If we continue to see problems from that standpoint and labor being one of the major issues, then we have a situation where we won’t be able to feed our country.”
Local News
Vegetable growers watch farm bill proceedings
- Local News
-
-
The Class of 2012 moves on
Colquitt County High School bid farewell to its 2012 seniors during graduation exercises Saturday morning at Mack Tharpe Stadium at Tom White Field. Scheduled for graduation were 471 students.
-
After high-speed chase, driver eludes police … for now
A Moultrie police officer failed to catch his quarry after a high-speed chase Thursday night, but a passenger in the vehicle gave him the name of a suspect.
-
Group works toward accountability court here
-
Students win for perfect attendance
-
Dough Boys Pizza open for business
-
Barber Tucker Inn reopens
-
Case ready for Jury
The 16 jurors in the trial of five alleged gang members finished hearing all of the evidence in the case Friday afternoon and could begin deliberating as early as Tuesday.
-
City pools to open Monday
-
Tragedy to keep Ryan James from graduation
Ryan won’t walk after all.
A hue and cry went up earlier this week when the Colquitt County Board of Education refused to let a senior with a developmental disability walk at today’s graduation. The board reversed its decision on Wednesday, but tragic events will prevent Ryan James from joining his classmates at Mack Tharpe Stadium. -
'Farewell Concert' set for Sunday
- More Local News Headlines
-
Vatican in Chaos After Butler Arrested for Leaks
Jimmy Carter Endorses Egypt's Election Results
Biden Addresses West Point Graduating Class
Dozens of Children Killed in New Syria Attack
Raw Video: Activists Allege Massacre in Syria
NJ Man Charged With Murder in Death of Patz
Support, Fun for Kids of Fallen Soldiers at Camp
Fugitive Penguin Caught, Returned to Aquarium
50 Years Later, Underground Fire Still Burning
Light Show Transforms Sydney Opera House
Raw Video: Unruly Passenger Restrained in Miami
Raw Video: Robber Uses Drive-thru Window
Raw Video: Dragon Arrives at Space Station
Calif.'s Coronado Named Nation's Best Beach
CEO Salaries Become Sore Issue in Labor Disputes
