Agriculture

As the largest and oldest industry in Georgia, agriculture has deep roots in our state, and the Eighth District is no exception. The Eighth District is blessed with some of the most fertile soil and technologically advanced agricultural operations in the United States. As a member of the House Committee on Agriculture, I work tirelessly to advocate on behalf of our ranchers and farmers in rural America. Promoting successful agriculture production is not only critical to the Eighth District of Georgia, but also to the United States and the rest of the world.

• Subcommittee Chairman on Commodity Exchanges, Energy, and Credit

• As the Chairman of the Agriculture Subcommittee on Commodity Exchanges, Energy, and Credit, I work hard to help author a Farm Bill that is good for Georgia’s agricultural community, its consumers, and our economy. Farm Bill programs reaffirm our commitment to our farmers and ranchers by giving them the tools they need to keep the industry growing and the world fed.

• Georgia Agriculture Commodities at a Glance

• Georgia’s climate allows for virtually any crop to be grown or animal raised successfully. Our state is the leading producer of peanuts, pecans, poultry, and near the top with a range of other commodities. As Georgia’s leading industry, agriculture industry utilizes nearly 10 million acres for production. The University of Georgia Tifton campus and Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College are leading the way in agriculture research institutions, contributing to Middle Georgia’s reputation for being an epicenter for agricultural research and development worldwide.

• Rural Development and Electrification

• One of the things that has changed on the farm in the last couple of years at an exponential rate is the use of technology, and economic development and electrification are imperative for ensuring growth and stability in rural areas of our country. In many places, our communities need broadband just as much as we need roads and bridges to keep production moving and the world fed. Extending our nation’s broadband network to rural areas will significantly increase productivity and efficiency while bringing our smalls towns into the 21st century.