Organic Trade Week and Repping Georgia on The Hill

By Lauren Cox, Lydia Hsu, and Michael Wall 

Lauren Cox is Georgia Organics’ Director of Farmer Services, Lydia Hsu is a Farmer Services Coordinator, and Michael Wall is Director of Farmer Advocacy 

Last month from May 14 - May 16, 2024, organic interest groups from across the US converged on Washington, DC for the Organic Trade Association’s Organic Trade Week to talk policy, climate change, nutrition, and creating a pipeline for young farmers within the organic movement.  

Georgia Organics’ Director of Advocacy, Michael Wall, along with Director of Farmer Services, Lauren Cox, and Farmer Services Coordinator (and lead on all things GO Organic!), Lydia Hsu, attended the event and debriefed the Georgia Organics staff upon their return. Here are some highlights from their visit to DC.  

Photo by Organic Trade Association 

Event Organization 

The first two days of the conference included attendee-wide sessions along with smaller “breakouts” for grain, dairy, poultry, ingredients (for value-added products like box cereal for example), oil seeds, pulses, produce, and export opportunities. Not many farmers were present at the event though there were a handful of larger farm businesses in attendance, including Earthbound Organics and a large Certified Organic dairy producer from the Midwest. Value-added companies like Annie’s and Once Upon a Farm were in the crowd along with small to midsized nonprofits, like Georgia Organics, and interest groups nationwide that serve certified organic farmers directly. A handful of other attendees included research-based institutions along with organic certifiers and state partners of the USDA’s Transition to Organic Partnership Program (TOPP). Georgia Organics is part of the Southeastern TOPP group and connected with some of these partners in 2023 when Atlanta hosted the National Organic Standards Board’s (NOSB) annual meeting. 

Advocacy Day on the Hill 

The last day of the conference was spent out and about, speaking with members of Congress and their staff about the Farm Bill, organic growth in Georgia, and the needs of small- to mid-scale growers of all stripes in the state.  

What were your main takeaways from the conference?  

Lydia: I walked away with three overarching themes in my head: consumer education, regenerative versus organic labeling, and then specifically, a lot of dairy and poultry concerns about the avian flu spreading and what that means for organic producers.

Lauren: My main takeaways from the conference were that we needed more farmers in the room and that national policy ultimately trickles down to both farmers and Georgia Organics. Policy is not just some amorphous thing but rather explicit language that affects resources that directly support (or hinder) the local, organic movement. Policy and what is talked about and decided on in these rooms and conversations affect the work we do at Georgia Organics in getting resources and support to our farmers.   

Michael: I appreciated the national and international network that comes together when the Organic Trade Association (OTA) hosts this annual event. Even if our farmers’ sizes and markets are vastly different, we have a lot more in common that you’d think, especially when it comes to consumer education on organic and other sustainable ag practices, and agriculture’s importance in addressing the world’s climate crisis. 

Who attended the conference? Who was in the room? 

Lydia: From the beginning, when folks were asked to raise their hand and say who they were, you could see that a lot of the people in the audience were representatives of finished goods and products. There were some retailers, and then only a handful of farmers, probably 10 or less. It was interesting to be in that space because a lot of our work at Georgia Organics is so farmer-focused compared to the other side of the organic industry. I wasn't necessarily surprised, but it was intriguing to see the corporate-ness of organics and see a big company like General Mills and learn that they bought Annie's and Cascadian Farms. A Pilgrim's Pride representative was at my table. All in all, there were many groups with vested interest in the organic industry represented there. 

Lauren: It was interesting to go from two days of absorbing information and observing/inferring relationships of the folks in the room who have clearly attended the conference before, some year over year, to then going to Capitol Hill and paying our GA representatives a visit. It was cool to see the larger geography of the national and international movement in one room together, discussing the organic movement at large and then finally, to be able to talk about specific Farm Bill policy that affects our farmers with Georgia representatives for the last day of the conference. 

One of my main observations was that “organics” (as in “Certified Organic”) is a predominantly white space. It was pretty marked to me. I think there's a lot of work that can be done to be inclusive and expand the organic community, both at Georgia Organics and at the national and international level. I know Black and brown farmers are farming organically. They’ve just been left out of the conversation and the certification structure has barriers to participation and a history of exclusion that the USDA needs to address. 

Kaia Shivers the Black Farmers Index reminded conference attendees about the policing nature of the certification process and how it’s important to acknowledge this process affects diverse communities differently. Cultural sensitivity to this issue and the nuances around it would go a long way in calling folks into the conversation.   

It was also clear to me that there’s an opportunity (and a need) for more grassroots, farmer-centric organizations to be in spaces like that. Maybe next year we could organize a group to attend. 

Michael: This event space is frequently filled with reps from some of the largest food corporations on the planet, most of whom have acquired or launched organic brands as the organic marketplace continues its explosive growth. Rooms like that are populated with people who are primarily (but not solely) focused on profit, and also people who are driven by their passion for certified organic agriculture and organic farmers. Believe it or not, this forms a values-driven community and movement that is familiar to anyone who has been involved in Georgia Organics and our work. As Lauren said, the folk there are mostly white and not representative of organic farmers, at least as far as Georgia’s certified organic farms go.  I also know that staff members at OTA have been trying very hard to make Organic Trade Week more diverse, and I’ve seen some good progress in that regard over the years. 

Photo by Organic Trade Association 

Were there topics covered in the conference that you can bring back home to your work at Georgia Organics?  

Lydia (on consumer marketing and certification enforcement for integrity):  

I was able to draw comparisons with what people were talking about to our own work because these big companies have the same concerns as small, certified organic farmers have about consumer education and marketing here in Georgia. For them, there was more emphasis on the product side while for Georgia Organics, we’re more focused on how to help farmers educate their consumers at the farmers' market. There was this similar thread of discussion, like the inundation of consumer-facing labels and the kind of confusion that exists (in the market). Organics is one of only a few labels that has third-party enforcement and is legally defined by US law.  

Another thing that can and does affect organic farmers in Georgia is a new USDA organic regulation, the Strengthening Organic Enforcement rule, referred to as SOE. This was the first major change and update to organic regulations since the Organic Food Productions Act in 1990. This SOE rule creates stricter regulations for farmers importing ingredients or products, and there’s a lot more checkpoints for fraud than there were previously. The pros of this rule include strengthening the integrity of the organic label since there will be fewer products that are non-certified coming in and being labeled fraudulently as organic. The rule began to be enforced in March 2024 and within two months, 20 non-compliances were filed to certifiers. A lot of action and movement has already happened with this enforcement, and it increases the understanding of supply chain nuances because now companies have the regulatory excuse backed by the USDA to investigate where suppliers and vendors are getting their products and ingredients.  

One of the panelists at the conference noted that organic certifiers within different US regions were already in conversation with each other because of TOPP and the inherent nature of partnership in that program. Because these certifiers are already working with each other, they are better able to effectively implement the SOE rule. The timing on this is fortuitous since TOPP is happening in conjunction with the start of this rule’s enforcement.  

A consequence of the SOE rule is that this increased regulation will fall harder on smaller farms. One solution to this foreseeable problem is to have inspectors and certification specialists go through retraining to know how to implement this rule through a risk-based approach that’s appropriate for the farm operation. A risk-based approach would mean that a farm that moves $20,000 a year in organic product is assessed with a proportionate amount of risk and therefore scrutiny versus a farm that moves $2 million worth of organic product in a year. I’ve been hearing this conversation with farmers in Georgia and there’s a large concern that too many small-scale farmers are being put under the microscope for fraud, when it’s the larger multinational corporations that should be put under more scrutiny. 

Lauren (on market opportunities specifically for larger organic farmers):  

The grain, oil seeds, and pulses breakout session was super interesting. The three presenters talked about corn, sunflower seeds (for sunflower oil), and peas, as in pea protein. The conversation addressed  national and international trade issues, but I could 100% tie it back to some of our larger organic farmers doing work here in Georgia, especially in the Southeastern part of the state.  

First, I learned that most organic sunflower seed oil comes from Ukraine. As the war goes on, there’s a continued strain on the US market.  

I also learned that organic corn supplies in the US are pretty stable. In fact, the US may be self-reliant on organic corn in the near future, whereas the pea protein market is being flooded by China who is buying uncertified product from South America and then certifying it in China before shipping it into the US. This ties into the USDA’s integrity process on imports and exports and a need for further funding going towards enforcement.  

This ties into possibilities for the future of larger scale organic farming in Georgia because ultimately, the larger an organic farm gets, the more they’ll have to reach markets where national and international competition is taking place.  

Right now, and since its formation in 2019, the farmer-owned cooperative, Georgia Organic Peanut Association (GOPA), has continued to develop crop rotations that serve their larger format farmers, striking a balance between maintaining principles outlined and necessary for organic certification and the necessary efficiency and culture of larger scale row cropping in Georgia. One challenge has been to identify a range of additional crops to grow within their rotation while they’re not growing organic peanuts. I don’t know... what if Georgia peanut farmers grew organic sunflower seeds as a seed source for organic oil while they weren’t growing peanuts?  

The other question that came to mind was is there a way to organize ourselves so that Georgia farmers grow organic peas as part of feed for organic livestock? What if we’re able to address the certified organic animal feed issue in Georgia (the one where anyone who wants certified organic animal feed has to import it across state lines) by working with a company that makes animal feed with inputs coming directly from within Georgia? Could pea protein be the answer? It’s something that while sitting there, listening to the speakers, I thought about. 

Michael (on avian flu and food safety and market trends): 

I found the conversations on organic research and food safety to be particularly interesting and relevant for Georgia farmers, and not just organic farmers. Highly pathogenic avian influenza is a huge deal, and I know it is the biggest fear for hundreds of poultry farmers in Georgia, and a huge concern for our friends at the Georgia Department of Agriculture. It is terrifying to think about what would happen to farmers and the state economy if that virus ever touched down in Georgia (knock on wood). Hearing how other states and what other poultry operations dealt with wasn’t necessarily encouraging, but I do believe it is better to be forewarned and forearmed when facing something so potentially devastating.  

The other topic that I’ve brought back for Georgia Organics staff, board, and farmers, is that consumer patterns show that organic consumption and purchasing is not slowing down any time soon. The evidence and market data show that consumer consumption of organic produce, crops, and products continues to grow, and the USDA’s Certified Organic seal is the most trusted label of all in the consumer food products space. That’s important intel for all growers, whether they are already certified organic, or thinking about organic certification. 

Photo by Organic Trade Association 

Where there any other themes or topics covered at the conference that Georgia farmers would be interested in? 

Lydia (on ‘regenerative’ vs. ‘organic’):  

Speaking specifically about the regenerative versus organic label – the conversation around “regenerative being beyond organic,” meaning regenerative practices being superior to what Organic requires was an interesting one. There was the acknowledgment that “regenerative” could also mean “just beyond conventional” as well. This might apply to farmers who are transitioning from conventional to organic. The question that was asked to the group was is “regenerative” the label for that transition period? And who is defining the label?  

It was brought up that there is a risk that corporations will co-opt the term; they co-opted “sustainable”, and because the cost is less to be regenerative than Organic, they could use it to greenwash their sustainability measures.  

On the flip side, during the poultry-specific breakout session, the farmers on the panel talked about unifying their efforts, and a question was posed, “How much money has been spent to educate consumers in splintered methods.” If we see regenerative as a threat, then that's only detrimental to organics. For example, part of the regenerative label is taking soil and biodiversity measurements, which isn't necessarily required by organics. Soil tests are recommended in organics, but not required. The bigger question then is…how does the industry need to evolve with the other labels to get more and more on the right track? The “regenerative” angle can challenge organics to have those values.  

Photo by Organic Trade Association 

Thursday, May 16th, Capitol Hill Visits 

The bookend to the Organic Trade Week Conference was a day spent visiting Georgia representatives on Capitol Hill.  

While Michael and Lauren did not end up meeting any Georgia representatives directly, they were able to share the priorities of Georgia Organics’ Farmer Members with their assistants, who often filter constituent requests and priorities up to their official representatives.  

Meetings took place at the offices of:  

• Rep. Drew Ferguson (R-GA03) 

• Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-GA) 

• Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-GA) 

• Rep. Sanford Bishop (D-GA02)  

• Rep. Austin Scott (R-GA08)  

Diving Into Questions from Georgia Organics Staff 

Alexis Chase (Executive Director): Why were there so few farmers? 

Lydia: I think my understanding was that the conference was marketed towards industry folks and corporations that have a relationship to the Political Action Committee (PAC) for “Organics.” I think because poultry and dairy farmers need to get their products processed, that’s why we saw those types of farmers at the conference. 

Lauren: I think what was interesting is that once you get to that scale (national and international), you really are aware of advocacy and politics to a degree that smaller farmers are not. When you’re that big, you must educate yourself on stuff that affects your business directly and perhaps to a larger degree than a smaller farmer. Of the farmers that were there, I thought, “Wow, you’re like a straight up businessperson but also a dairy farmer. You know your processors and how their business works, you know your sales outlets and how much it costs you to produce and can get into the nitty gritty on the business side of things.” 

Alexis Chase (Executive Director): So, it seems like what we often hear from farmers and other people is that production facilities are a barrier. For example, people can grow food but then how do you take it all the way home to get it to market if there’s no processing infrastructure, but like you said, organic systems must be completely segregated. How do they wash and pack? How do they hold things in cold storage? How do we help farmers with these packaging facility issues, especially if they don’t have the funding or capacity? It sounds like this is going to continue being an issue for farmers that we work with, right?  

Lydia: I want to clarify that a handler can be both organic and non-organic, there just needs to be an audit of a record keeping system in place. The handler must have a thorough cleaning process between handling non-organic products and organic products for them to be certified. This is usually the barrier - having the handler hold certification - and being willing to go through the process and submit paperwork to achieve certification. Most of the time these handlers work with their organic products first.  

Suzanne Girdner (Director of Programs): I know Michael has more to add to this conversation (he was out of the office the day of this briefing) but I think it’s worth it to have a blog post or some other form of communication around your experience at this conference. It’s helpful to illuminate these takeaways, bringing advocacy that can be so abstract to consumers and farmers into understandable conversations.  

Lauren: Agreed, Suzanne. When I was farming, I really didn’t pay attention to the Farm Bill to be honest. I was running a business where the margins are small. You’ve got a CSA, you’re grinding, and I really didn’t have any connection to advocacy whatsoever, so I think you’re right. And honestly, I still didn’t until this conference. I think more farmers should have the opportunity to attend! 

Meg Darnell (Farmer Services Coordinator): When we put together that RMI grant webinar I felt like the information we were going through was super helpful and that non-profits are the perfect fit for helping farmers to get grants and coordinate what could be many moving pieces. It’s a very important piece to this supply chain puzzle.  

Are you a current Certified Organic grower or transitioning grower in Georgia? Visit Georgia Organics’ GO Organic! page for cost-share and technical resources, along with more information on joining the Georgia Certified Organic Network (GCON).  

Interested in Georgia Organics’ Advocacy work? Visit https://www.georgiaorganics.org/advocacy to learn more.  

To learn more about Georgia Organics, visit georgiaorganics.org or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube.   

What We Want From the Farm Bill

By Michael Wall

Michael Wall is the Director of Farmer Advocacy at Georgia Organics.

Congress has finally given us drafts of the Farm Bill and there is plenty of cud of chew on, but definitely keep this in mind:

The passage of this important legislation is a marathon, not a sprint, and there still is a very long way to go. 

We don’t think it is time to pick up the phones and start calling Members of Congress - yet. But it is time to do some reading and to familiarize yourself with who your representatives are and how to get in touch with them for when the time comes. 

THE VERY LATEST ON THE FARM BILL

Actually, we’re not going to the play the “Very Latest on the Farm Bill” game. By the time we hit publish on this blog post, the Farm Bill and the politics around it will likely have changed a lot. Instead, we’re going to talk about what we want to see out of the Farm Bill and stay focused on the priorities our farmers told us about in the survey we sent out when we first launched Farmer Advocacy in 2022. 

We would add that there is a lot to be desired from both the Senate and House versions, at least as far we’ve seen (details on the Senate bill are forthcoming but there is an outline of sorts, and the text of the House version came out on Saturday, May 18). If we were forced to choose between the two, we’d go with the Senate version because it does include a meager increase in the Organic Cost Share Reimbursement Program, raising it from $750 annually to $1,000.  

We know our farmers need at least a $1,500 cost share each year for it to really stop Georgia from losing Certified Organic farms. It also includes parts of other pieces of legislation that we will get into further below. 

There are a few other pieces of the Senate bill that benefits Organic growers, the National Organic Program, and sustainable and organic ag research. But we are hoping and working for much more. 

OUR LATEST TRIP TO DC

Georgia Organics Farmer Services Director Lauren Cox and Farmer Advocacy Director Michael Wall visited the offices of several Members of Congress on May 16 with our partners at the Organic Trade Association (OTA). In the meetings, we reminded the folks that we already knew about our farmers’ priorities, and introduced new folks to Georgia Organics and what our farmers are hoping to get out of this next Farm Bill. 

On this trip we met with staff for: 

• Rep. Drew Ferguson (R-03) 

• Sen. Jon Ossoff (D) 

• Sen. Reb. Raphael Warnock (D) 

• Rep. Sanford Bishop (D-13) 

• Rep. Austin Scott (R-8) 

In the meetings, House Republicans liked the House version of the Bill (the House is currently run by Republicans), and Senate Democrats think their version is the better one (the Senate is currently controlled by Democrats). 

Georgia Organics Farmer Services Director Lauren Cox and Farmer Advocacy Director Michael Wall in front of the Capitol building on a windy day in mid-May, 2024. 

WHAT WE WANT FROM THE NEXT FARM BILL

Soil health through the Agriculture Resilience Act

The issue our farmers said was most important to them was soil health, and no piece of legislation addresses soil health as thoroughly as the Agriculture Resilience Act (ARA).

The ARA:  

• Attempts to get the US agricultural system to net zero on carbon emissions and has mechanisms to go even further 

• Requires the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to establish a national network of regional hubs for risk adaptation and mitigation to climate change 

• Creates a soil health grant program for state and tribal governments 

• Focuses on perennial production systems and grass-based livestock systems for its climate-focused goals 

What ar our prospects? To be perfectly honest, this is a moonshot piece of legislation that would profoundly transform how food is produced and consumed in the United States. It is extremely doubtful that this entire bill will be folded into the Farm Bill, but it is possible that one or even two of its major provisions could be adopted. That wouldn’t be as transformative, but it would be significant progress. There are a few ARA ideas in the Senate version and nothing from the ARA is the House version.  

Support for Organics and Organic transition through the Opportunities in Organics Act

The Opportunities in Organics Act (OOA) would institutionalize most of the US Department of Agriculture’s recent bursts of support for Organic transition and Organic market development. If implemented into the Farm Bill, OOA would strengthen markets and market access for existing Organic growers, and help reduce the barriers and costs for growers to transition to Organic agriculture. This work is a core piece of Georgia Organics’ longtime programming, and one we support wholeheartedly.  

Prospects: Slim. We were hoping to see much more of the OOA’s components in the Senate version. There is very little if any pieces of OOA in the House version. 

What else are we advocating for?

The Whole Farm Revenue Protection Program Improvement Act (WFRPIA), which is co-sponsored by Georgia’s Sen. Warnock, would enhance and improve access to one of the few risk management tools that was specifically designed to support diversified and Organic operations. 

So far, the Senate version doesn’t include any visible aspect of improving the Whole Farm Revenue Protection Program, but we hope that will change soon. 

Last but not least, the Continuous Improvement and Accountability in Organic Standards Act would regulate and oversee the frequency with which the USDA reviews and enacts new Organic standards and rules. Our friends at the National Organic Program don’t necessarily love this piece of legislation, and admittedly, it isn’t perfect. But it would help prevent the backlog of rulemaking that has created a gap between consumer expectations and the reality of current Organic standards. 

But wait there’s more.

Here are three more bills we hope will make their way into the text of the Farm Bill:

• The Organic Market Development Act 

• Strengthening Organic Agriculture Research Act  

• Organic Science and Research Investment Act  (OSRI)

MORE FARMER ADVOCACY EFFORTS

• April, 4, 2024, Warnock and the Whole Farm Revenue Protection Program Improvement Act 

• Sept. 14, 2023, Trips to US Capitol Lead Congressman to On-Farm Visit  

• July 28, 2022, GO Goes to Washington to Support Organic Farmers  

• July 28, 2022, Georgia Organics Launches Farmer Advocacy  

• July 28, 2022, Advocacy Efforts Bring Top USDA Officials to Georgia  

• Oct. 20, 2022, The Next Commissioner of Agriculture  

 To learn more about Georgia Organics, visit georgiaorganics.org or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube. 

Header Image: Farmer Julia Asherman of Rag & Frass Farm with Sen. Jon Ossoff’s Legislative Correspondent Caroline Li and Legistlative Director Anna Cullen, 2023.

Free Kaiser Bridge Health Insurance: A Retrospective and 2024 Open Enrollment

By Ain Chiké  

Ain is a Farmer Services Coordinator at Georgia Organics. She currently leads progress with connecting farmers and ag workers to Kaiser Bridge Health Insurance and is the creator and manager of the Georgia Organics Apprenticeship Program.

Farming is inherently hard work and managing risk becomes a daily practice. Farm owners who are part of the farm’s labor force cannot afford to take days off due to sudden illness or injury. The time away equates to loss of income and increased medical bills. The same is true of farm workers. In 2017, Georgia Organics partnered with Kaiser Permanente to bring metro Atlanta area farmers affordable healthcare under the Kaiser Permanente Bridge Healthcare Program.

The Kaiser Bridge Program supplies uninsured, low-income individuals and families with subsidized high-level health insurance. This program helps to “bridge” the gap for agricultural workers who do not qualify for Medicaid and find the monthly premiums of the Affordable Care Act burdensome.   

“...the coverage limit [of the program] has been expanded beyond the previous two-year coverage rule.  ”

Pictured above are some farmers felllowshiping at a tour of Woape Farm (woh-ah-pay) in Houston County. All attendees of our 2023 Georgia Organics Conference in Perry, GA were invited to chose from eight surrounding farms to tour before heading back home. Photo by Jenna Shea Photojournalism.

Since the program’s inception, Georgia Organics has helped over 50 farm owners, farm workers, and their qualified dependents receive healthcare. Our farmers have saved thousands of dollars on unexpected medical fees, follow-up care, and annual physicals. In some cases, participants who would normally ignore a lingering ache, progressive cough, or twisted joint, were able to schedule a visit at a Kaiser Permanente office to receive top tier medical care. This helped them get back on the farm in good physical condition and prevented their ailments from exaggerating.

“Former two-year beneficiaries are encouraged to re-apply through Friday, Sept. 15, 2023.”

LOVE IS LOVE COOPERATIVE FARM, Worker-owners from left to right: Joe Reynolds, Judith Winfrey, Demetrius Milling, Monica Ponce, and Russell Honderd. Photo courtesy of the farmers’ website.

One of our Farmer Members, Hanna Brown, a fifth-year farm worker and current part of the Love is Love farm crew, spoke about an often overlooked benefit of being in the program and insured when she stated that

“…being a part of the Kaiser Bridge Program has greatly improved my peace of mind. With as many healthcare concerns that could come as a direct result of farm work, knowing that I could easily and affordably receive healthcare has been an enormous relief.” 

WHO CAN PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAM? 

Eligible individuals: 

• Farm owners, farmer employees (this includes undocumented workers), agricultural contractors, those who work in forestry, those in a farm mentorship program, etc.   

• Live or work in Bartow, Butts, Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, Coweta, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry, Lamar, Newton, Paulding, Pike, Rockdale, Spalding, or Walton counties of Georgia. 

• Meet annual or monthly income requirements of the program. 

• Maintain membership with a Georgia Organics or SAAFON for the duration of enrollment.

PROGRAM UPDATES

Past participants and those familiar with the program should be aware that the coverage limit has been expanded beyond the previous two-year coverage rule.  

WHEN AND HOW TO APPLY

The upcoming open enrollment period will begin in Nov. 2023 and close in Jan. 2024. Former two-year beneficiaries are encouraged to re-apply through Friday, Sept. 15, 2023.

If you read this article after the deadline, re-apply between Nov. 2023 and Jan. 2024 during the open enrollment period.

New to Kaiser Bridge? Email gofarmerservices@gmail.com to sign-up for open enrollment updates and learn more about the program for you and your farm employees.

READY TO JOIN OR RENEW YOUR GEORGIA ORGANICS MEMBERSHIP TODAY? Find the right membership level for you at www.georgiaorganics.org/membership.

To learn more about Georgia Organics visit georgiaorganics.org or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube by searching (Georgia Organics).   

Farmer Field Day Recap: Integrated Pest Management in Organic Cropping Systems

By Ain Chiké

Ain is a Farmer Services Coordinator at Georgia Organics 

On a sunny and moderately breezy morning in June, the Georgia Organics Farmers Services team, representatives from Seven Springs Farm Supply, researchers from the University of Georgia, and over 50 attendees gathered at Crystal Organic Farm in Newborn, GA for a Farmer Field Day to discuss the ins and outs of Integrated Pest Management.  The definition of Integrated Pest Management, or IPM, varied from one presenter to the next, but all agreed that it is an environmentally sensitive tiered approach to long-term pest management.  

Armed with a bullhorn and a combined lifetime of farming and IPM experience, farm hosts Nicolas Donck and Jeni Jarrard-Donck started the field day farm tour by welcoming participants with a condensed overview of the farm’s thirty-year history as a Certified Organic farm. Once acclimated, participants walked the 30-acre farm and learned more about how their hosts manage insect pests and crop diseases. 

 IPM is a core pillar of organic farming, and the seasoned growers at Crystal Organic Farm demonstrated this foundational organic principle in their farm planning and systems. Certified Organic farms must have a pest, weed, and disease management plan to comply with the National Organic Program (NOP) standard 205.206. This standard states that Organic growers must use a hierarchical approach to managing pests, weeds, and disease, meaning they must first use prevention practices, then control practices, and as a last resort, input applications may be used. IPM strategies use non-chemical and chemical approaches to suppress and control pest populations. To determine how to respond to an outbreak, farmers using IPM strategies monitor the pest or disease, accurately identify the issue, assess and consider the economic injury threshold (a threshold is the point at which action should be taken), implement a treatment strategy, and evaluate the success of treatments.  

Daniel Sweeney of Seven Springs Farm Supply standing in front of aging cucumbers

Photo by Meg Darnell of Georgia Organics

One of the first stops on the tour was a swath of perennial herbs. While taking in the herbs and flowers Jeni explained how this type of planting uses cultural practices and biological control. The native plants encourage beneficial species and predators to remain on the land, helping to keep pesky bugs populations in check. Further down the row, attendees came upon season-extending high tunnels filled with cucumbers in varying degrees of age and health and were asked to determine if the presenting issues were pest or disease-related. Attendees learned from Daniel Sweeney, a Seven Springs Farm Supply crop adviser, that a “pest” is any animal or plant harmful to crops or humans. In this case, the cucumbers were suffering from age and heat. At this point, Nicolas explains that part of his strategy was not spending lots of time keeping the fast-growing, disease prone crop alive past its initial harvest. However, he does use successive plantings to keep a good flow available throughout the growing season. To keep disease from spreading, Nicolas and Jeni’s team harvest the youngest and healthiest fruits first before tending to the older vines. 

 Within an IPM system, farmers employ multiple tactics and levels of control to reduce crop damage. The IPM control tiers are:  

1. Cultural Practices: Agricultural practices using biodiversity to make the environment less favorable to crop damaging insects and disease. Examples include crop rotation, plant selection, trap crops, and adjusting the timing of planting or harvest. These strategies are considered ‘prevention practices’ in the NOP standard 205.206. 

2. Physical and Mechanical Control: Mulching to suppress splash back from the soil, placing barriers that keep birds or insects out, reducing breeding sites through mowing, and physically removing pests from plants. These strategies are considered ‘control practices’ in the NOP standard 205.206. 

3. Biological Control: Using beneficial predators, parasitoids, pathogens, and plants to combat and control the insect pest, or “bad bug,” population. These strategies are considered ‘control practices’ in the NOP standard 205.206. 

4. Chemical Control: Applying natural or synthetic chemical substances to repel or eradicate pests. This is usually a last resort as chemical control can affect the beneficials within the area. Pheromone disruptors or specialized bacteria like Bacillus Thuringiensis (B.T.) are specialized means of control that target a specific type of pest. These strategies are considered ‘input applications’ in the NOP standard 205.206. Certified Organic and transitioning to Organic growers should verify that any synthetic inputs they use are included on the National list of synthetic substances allowed for use in Organic crop production. 

Photo by: Alena Ivakhnenko of Seven Spring Farm Supply 

As the tour continued, the group split in two. Jeni took one group to learn more about various herbs and their medicinal properties, while others went with Nicolas to learn more about crop production and management.  

As the sun began to make its presence known, everyone settled in the shade and recharged with a delicious lunch from Taqueria El Futuro. Following the intermission, UGA professor and entomologist Dr. Jason Schmidt, presented on how to deal with insects through identification and learning about their life cycles. Knowing when a pest population will peak and what it likes to eat is instrumental in crop planning. Dr. Henry Sintim, a UGA professor in the Crop & Soil Sciences department, followed with an impassioned speech about the necessities of soil fertility and nutrient management. He performed a percolation test which he mentioned is one of the fundamental keys to determining if your soil will allow water to penetrate and move through the medium, and it evaluates the ability of the soil to absorb nutrients. Last but certainly not least, the final presenter Daniel Sweeney, gave insight into the services that Seven Spring Farm Supply provides and an overview of foundational and practical integrated pest management. 

 As the day wrapped up, attendees left with their heads full of information on how to tackle the issues presented within their growing operations, equipped with a multitude of different IPM strategies to quell the influx of pests that routinely visit their crops.  

 RESOURCES 

• To learn more about Integrated Pest Management, visit the University of Georgia IPM handbook for home and commercial growers. 

• Curious about performing a percolation test? Follow these step-by-step directions 

• Visit the Seven Springs Farm Supply website to view their pest management solutions and check out their field day recap blog!

• Access the Farmer Field Day presentations by Dr. Jason Schmidt, Dr. Henry Sintim, and Daniel Sweeney via Google Drive here.  

• Are you transitioning to Organic Certification and have questions about IPM or the other NOP standards Organic growers have to adhere to? Visit Georgia Organics’ GO Organic! page for resources and more information on receiving one-on-one technical assistance.

• Are you a current Certified Organic grower in Georgia? Visit Georgia Organics’ GO Organic! page for cost-share resources and more information on joining the Georgia Certified Organic Network (GCON). 

Conservation & Crop Rotation Farmer Field Day Recap

By Kimberly Koogler, with contributions from Ben Sterling, Meg Darnell, and Lauren Cox 

Kimberly Koogler is Georgia Organics’ Community Collaborations Manager, Lauren Cox is the Farmer Services Director, and Meg Darnell is a Farmer Services Coordinator. Ben Sterling is McIntosh SEED’s Program Manager.  

Everyone gathered in the Coastal GA Small Farmers Cooperative. Photo by Lauren Cox.

In mid-April, when spring was still feeling like spring and not yet like summer, the Georgia Organics Farmer Services and Community Collaborations teams and McIntosh SEED brought a group of about 30 Southeast GA farmers together at the Coastal GA Small Farmers Cooperative in Glennville, GA for a full farmer field day all about conservation programs and crop rotation systems. Georgia Organics has been making concerted efforts to engage farms outside of the metro-Atlanta area, and this instance proved to be even more successful and rewarding than we could have hoped. 

Coastal GA Small Farmers Cooperative tour. Photo by Meg Darnell.

Ben Sterling of McIntosh SEED speaking at the Coastal GA Small Farmers Cooperative. (Left to right) Kimberly Koogler and Meg Darnell of Georgia Organics. Photo by Lauren Cox.

Our gracious hosts at the Coastal GA Small Farmers Cooperative gave us a tour of their farm and facilities and shared with us the history of their Cooperative, their process for getting Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) certified, as well as their hopes and concerns about there being young people to take over operations and keep the Cooperative running and consistently producing and selling.

Coastal GA Small Farmers Cooperative processing facilities. Photo by Lauren Cox.

Everyone partook in a delicious lunch catered by local restaurant Sho’ Nuff Smokin’ Good BBQ. While folks ate, Farmer Services Director Lauren Cox went over the tiers of farmer services available to growers through Georgia Organics; Meg Darnell of Georgia Organics and Ben Sterling of McIntosh SEED introduced an exciting, new Climate Smart Farmer Program available to Black growers in Southeast GA through funding that the two organizations just received from Drawdown Georgia; Connie Oliver of WayGreen presented about the Family Farm Share program, what it currently looks like in Waycross, and their need for more growers as they expand into neighboring counties; and Mr. Charlie Grace of NRCS explained and answered growers’ questions about NRCS programs and services.  

Daniel Parson of Oxford Farm at Emory presenting at the Coastal GA Small Farmers Cooperative. Photo by Lauren.

To finish out the day, Daniel Parson of Oxford Farm at Emory University presented a crop rotation workshop in which he provided a tried-and-true crop rotation system for growers to use on their own farms. Each farm also received a certified scale, a soil testing probe, a crop rotation guidebook for organic farms, and two rolls of 83”x250’ Agribon-30 row cover to take back to their farms.   

Key takeaways from this gathering:  

• Two communities of growers from the region came together to learn about things that can help all of their unique farming operations.  

• This gathering was rich in diversity of farms and people in terms of race, age (small children to 80+ were involved), diversity of crops grown and held certifications, and backgrounds of farms (homesteaders to generational farming). 

• NRCS representative, Charlie Grace was able to provide a level of transparency that some farmers had not yet been exposed to about NRCS programs. 

• Networking of farms in the Southeast is said to be “rare”, according to a couple of farmers in attendance, and they seem to be hungry for more of it. In other words, more opportunities like this, please! 

• The crop rotation workshop gave context to and details about the importance of and science behind participating in this conservation practice. 

• The participants went home with many valuable supplies, including Agribon row cover, soil testing probes, certified scales, and crop rotation guidebooks.  

• The Coastal GA Small Farmers Cooperative, of which Common Market Southeast is currently a customer, strives for consistency and quality in all of their products, which include collard greens, squash and zucchini, peas, melons, and more. Their growers recognize a need for young people to join as they head into the future.  

• Sho’ Nuff Smokin’ Good BBQ sho’ nuff makes some smokin’ good BBQ!  

To learn more about McIntosh SEED, visit mcintoshseed.org or follow them on Facebook facebook.com/mcintosh.seed.5 and Instagram @mcintoshseed.  

To learn more about Georgia Organics visit georgiaorganics.org or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, and YouTube by searching (Georgia Organics).  

Introducing the 2022-2024 Accelerator Cohort!

By Lydia Hsu 

Lydia Hsu is a Farmer Services Coordinator at Georgia Organics.

The Farmer Services team here at Georgia Organics is excited to formally introduce the farmers in the 2022-2024 Accelerator cohort!

The Georgia Organics Accelerator Program combines expert coaching with tailored on-farm investments to grow the vitality and resiliency of Georgia farms and improve the quality of life for farmers.  

The seven farms selected for the 2022-2024 cohort are all doing incredible work to grow their farm products and businesses, sustainably and organically. Each farm was chosen based on their proposed utilization of the program, which includes identifying three focus goals and one in-hand resource that the farms work towards achieving and completing by the end of the program. 

The Farmer Services team is working closely with each farm to develop their goals and in-hand resource, and to support them over the next two years as they execute their Accelerator plan. We have a robust directory of coaches that will be working hand-in-hand with the farmers to provide technical assistance, guidance, and training on a vast array of topics that help them with long-term farm business planning. In-hand resources can look like a Soil Fertility plan, a Food Safety plan, a Labor plan, a Transition plan, and more!  

The coaches will also advise farmers on how to maximize their Accelerator funding for their strategic capital investments. This funding can be applied towards farm expenses — including on-farm infrastructure, labor, healthcare, and marketing.  

Accelerator Coaches, Case Managers, and Farmers mingle at December 2022 Networking Session. Photo by M.F. Espinoza (@healianthusfarms).

In addition to the individual support farmers receive from coaches and case managers, a key part of the Accelerator program is the cohort community itself, and the peer-to-peer connections the program provides space for. The farmers have the opportunity to participate in networking sessions with their fellow cohort members, as well as Accelerator alumni farmers. These networking opportunities, hosted by Georgia Organics both online and in-person throughout the year, allow the cohort to learn from each other, discuss the Accelerator program together, and connect with other Georgia farmers while visiting each other's farms. Our hope is that these networking sessions become an invaluable way to grow community and friendships with other farmers. 

The seven farms in the 2022-2024 cohort are located across the state of Georgia and range from diversified vegetable operations to fiber and livestock farms. Without further ado, here are the 2022-2024 Accelerator farmers! 

Andrew Douglas and family of Crossroad Farm and Garden. Photo credit: Southern Soil.

Crossroad Farm and Garden (Facebook, Instagram)  

Andrew Douglas | Alma, GA  

Crossroad Farm and Garden is a Certified Naturally Grown farm owned and operated by Andrew Douglas. The farm uses sustainable practices to cultivate the soil and grow vegetables, herbs, and fruits. As a member of WayGreen, a local food coalition in southeast Georgia, the farm provides food for the community through the Family Farm Share program in Waycross. 

Brendan Gannon of Gannon Organics. Photo credit: Gannon Organics.

Gannon Organics (Facebook, Instagram)

Brendan Gannon | Savannah, GA 

Gannon Organics was founded by Brendan Gannon in December 2019. The operation is a 4-acre sustainable and diversified vegetable farm serving Savannah, GA. Brendan has been farming organically for over a decade, uses 100% organic methods to grow his produce, and uses cover cropping and field rotation as means for a regenerative growing environment.  

Keisha and Warren Cameron of High Hog Farm. Photo credit: High Hog Farm.

High Hog Farm (Facebook, Instagram)  

Keisha and Warren Cameron | Grayson, GA  

High Hog Farm is run by returning generation farmers Keisha and Warren Cameron. They officially started cultivating the land in 2014, regenerating the soil, and quickly becoming students of permaculture, agroecology, and indigenous practices. They produce locally grown fibers and plant-based dyes from heritage breed sheep, rabbits, and heirloom seeds. 

Brennan and Gwendolyn Washington of Phoenix Gardens. Photo credit Kayla Williams.

Phoenix Gardens (Facebook)

Gwendolyn and Brennan Washington | Lawrenceville, GA  

Phoenix Gardens was started in 2006 and is owned and operated by Gwendolyn and Brennan Washington. The farm is Certified Naturally Grown and uses sustainable methods to grow vegetables, herbs, and fruits. The farm has been a mainstay in Gwinnett County for over fifteen years, hosting farm tours and educational events for the community. 

Stephanie Simmons of PolyCulture Production at Gaia Gardens. Photo credit: Food Well Alliance.

PolyCulture Production at Gaia Gardens (Instagram)  

Stephanie Simmons | Decatur, GA  

Stephanie Simmons started PolyCulture Production at Gaia Gardens in 2022. With 2.5 acres in production, Stephanie grows a variety of vegetables and fruits organically. The farm focuses on soil health as the foundation for plant, community, and cultural health and on mimicking the biodiversity of nature by producing multiple crops in the same space. 

Ashley Rodgers of Rodgers Greens and Roots Organic Farm. Photo credit: Rodgers Greens and Roots Organic Farm.

Rodgers Greens and Roots Organic Farm (Facebook, Instagram) 

Ashley Rodgers | Douglasville, GA  

Rodgers Greens and Roots Organic Farm is a Certified Organic farm owned and operated by Ashley Rodgers on 64 acres of historic farmland along the Chattahoochee River. Currently, 15 acres are under cultivation; 10 acres in vegetables, and 5 acres in perennial fruit orchards. The farm’s growing style is medium-scale and sustainable practices are the backbone of the farm. 

Rahul Anand of Snapfinger Farm. Photo credit: Snapfinger Farm.

Snapfinger Farm (Facebook, Instagram)  

Rahul Anand | Covington, GA   

Rahul Anand started Snapfinger Farm in 2016, when he took horse pastures and turned them into vegetable fields, built a walk-in cooler, wash station, hoop houses, and more. The farm is Certified Naturally Grown and uses sustainable growing methods. The farm expanded onto a new property in 2022 and will be scaling up from 2.5 acres to 30 acres of production. 

JOIN US IN WELCOMING THE NEW COHORT OF ACCELERATOR FARMS!

GIVE THEM A FOLLOW AND SHARE THE LOVE AS WE LAUNCH A GREAT YEAR. 

MAP OF CURRENT & ALUMNI ACCELERATOR FARMS

To learn more about Georgia Organics, visit georgiaorganics.org and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn by searching the handle @GeorgiaOrganics or Georgia Organics.

Our full suite of programs and services is accessible to our Farmer Members at no additional cost and can be discovered by visiting farmerservices.georgiaorganics.org. Not a member yet? Visit georgiaorganics.org/membership to become a member today!

Farmer Field Day Recap: Accelerator Networking Event – Welcoming the 2022-2024 Cohort!

By Lydia Hsu 

Lydia Hsu is a Farmer Services Coordinator at Georgia Organics 

Monday, Dec. 5, 2022, started as a cloudy, drizzly morning as over 25 attendees pulled up to Hearts of Harvest Farm, located in Arnoldsville, GA. Farmers traveled from across the state to convene at this diversified vegetable, flower, and mushroom farm run by Paul and Lindsey Sorah, 2020-2021 Accelerator alumni.  

The Field Day served as a networking event to welcome the 2022-2024 Accelerator cohort and provided the farmers with an opportunity to meet each other, connect with several alumni, get to know their program coaches, and put faces to the names of the Farmer Services team.  

Daniel Sweeney, a Seven Springs Farm Supply Crop Adviser, shares soil health and fertility knowledge at Hearts of Harvest Farm. Photo by M.F. Espinoza (@healianthusfarms)

The day started off at Hearts of Harvest’s home location, and the alumni farmers shared their Accelerator program experiences and insight, while the new farmers had the chance to talk about their hopes and goals for the program. As the drizzle turned into rain, the group left the cover of the tents, and we toured Hearts of Harvest Farm. Attendees were able to learn how Hearts of Harvest utilized their Accelerator capital investment funding to revamp a wooden structure on their property into a mushroom house. Growing mushrooms now provides them with a revenue stream through the winter months and allows them to retain employees with minimal turnover before the growing season – a game changer.  

After learning more about how the farm applied their Accelerator program funding, including shade cloth, market bins, and microgreen trays, the tour wrapped up and the group drove to the new, secondary farm location Hearts of Harvest just recently acquired. This expanded acreage will allow them to divide the two properties between flower-focused production and produce-focused growing space. 

Accelerator Farmers learn about the mushroom house at Hearts of Harvest Farm. Photo by M.F. Espinoza (@healianthusfarms)

In addition to receiving strategic capital investment funds to put towards their farm’s infrastructure, the new cohort receives funding specifically designated for working with coaches to further advance their short and long-term goals for their farm business. Accelerator program coaches spoke about their areas of expertise and the coaching services they could provide to the new cohort, ranging from food safety plans to legal guidance and everything in between. As an aspect of a newly formed partnership between Georgia Organics and Seven Springs Farm Supply, one of Seven Spring’s Crop Advisers, Daniel Sweeney, will be an Accelerator coach for the 2022-2024 cohort, focusing on soil health, fertility, and integrated-pest management.  

Inside the Farm Home at Hearts of Harvest Farm. Photo by Lydia Hsu

To finish out the Farmer Field Day, the new cohort of Accelerator farmers separated into breakout groups and met with the coaches and Farmer Services case managers to talk more in-depth about the year ahead.  

Despite the rain and dreary weather, the Field Day was filled with rich conversations, joyful connections, and invaluable community building between farmers. To cap the day, attendees shared a hearty meal together from Farmer Champion Farm Burger in Athens, GA, provided for by a gracious donation from Seven Springs Farm Supply. 

The Farmer Services team is excited to jump into the new year and start working with these seven, awesome 2022-2024 Accelerator farmers. So, without further ado, here is our newest Accelerator class!

• Crossroad Farm and Garden (Facebook, Instagram) | Andrew Douglas | Alma, GA 

• Gannon Organics (Facebook, Instagram) | Brendan Gannon | Savannah, GA 

• High Hog Farm (Facebook, Instagram) | Keisha and Warren Cameron | Grayson, GA 

• Phoenix Gardens (Facebook) | Gwendolyn and Brennan Washington | Lawrenceville, GA 

• PolyCulture Production at Gaia Garden (Instagram) | Stephanie Simmons | Decatur, GA 

• Rodgers Greens and Roots Organic Farm (Facebook, Instagram) | Ashley Rodgers | Douglasville, GA 

• Snapfinger Farm (Facebook, Instagram) | Rahul Anand | Covington, GA  

Accelerator Coaches, Case Managers, and Farmers mingle at Hearts of Harvest Farm. Photo by M.F. Espinoza (@healianthusfarms)

Learn more about the Georgia Organics Accelerator Program by visiting our website at farmerservices.georgiaorganics.org/accelerator.  

To learn more about Hearts of Harvest Farm, visit www.heartsofharvestfarm.com or follow them on Facebook and Instagram @heartsofharvestfarm. 

Find out more about Seven Springs Farm Supply by visiting www.sevenspringsfarmsupply.com or follow them on Facebook and Instagram @sevenspringsfarmsupply. 

Farmer Field Day Recap: Solar Array and Conservations Projects at 3 Porch Farm

By Meg Darnell  

Meg Darnell is a Farmer Services Coordinator at Georgia Organics .

Want to know how you can help support our GA farmers? Building resiliency against climate change is a great place to start.

Do your part by ensuring your local farmer can supply the community with fresh, local produce and meat. Click here to learn more about The Farmer Fund and how to invest in farmers—when they need it most.

All photos by M.F. Espinoza, Georgia Organics 2022-23 Communications Fellow.

On Oct. 31, 2022, Georgia Organics hosted over 25 participants at 3 Porch Farm in Comer, GA, for a farmer field day.

The event centered on the many benefits of on-farm solar energy and conservation projects for climate change resiliency. Mandy and Steve O'Shea, owners of the farm, jumped right into things. Informed by their experience, they shared how to best source and install solar panels on a farm. The O'Sheas also covered how the USDA Rural Energy for America (REAP) grant and the Federal Tax Credit offset the cost of their solar installation. The farm owners even shared their breakdown of associated costs and savings to detail how farmers in attendance could follow the process.

Mandy and Steve discussed the many conservation projects 3 Porch Farm has implemented with the assistance of the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). Specifically, we discussed how the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) was a valuable resource for the farm. NRCS agent, Bryan Barrett, was also on hand to explain the program and how to apply.

We organized the field day so attendees would leave with the following:

• A better understanding of solar-power benefits for a nine-acre, Georgia farm

• How this solar-based sustainable operation does/doesn’t translate to their farm

• Examples of real on-farm solar projects, funded through the REAP grant

• An outline of considerations, costs, challenges, and best practices for installing solar

• How to apply for the REAP grant & Federal solar tax credit

• Examples of on-farm infrastructure, funded through the EQIP grant

• An understanding of EQIP’s High Tunnel Initiative

• Knowing if they qualify for EQIP and, if so, what projects to select

An open-ended barn at 3 Porch Farm (Athens, GA). Built by farm owners Mandy and Steve O-Shea, the barn doubles as a covered storage area and solar array system.

We began our field day under an open-sided barn built by Mandy and Steve. The do-it-yourself project was inspired by their desire to cover farm equipment and provide roof space to install a solar array system. Thanks to their ingenuity, we were able to stay out of the rain and take turns introducing ourselves; attendees were primarily farmers — some traveling from hours away. 

As the rain let up, we ventured into the fields. There, participants discovered how sustainability is woven into everything Mandy and Steve do at 3 Porch Farm. They discussed their journey of transitioning from selling in-person at farmers markets to selling online and providing nationwide shipping.

They spoke with a climate-science professor who informed them that the carbon footprint of shipping was much lower than they previously thought, so they were able to move past some preconceived notions and pivot their whole business model.

The O’Sheas explained how they choose to ensure the offset of their carbon footprint by using all biodegradable/recyclable packaging and rounding up their mileage, paying 1.5 times in carbon offsets.  

Guineafowl (also known as Guinea hen or original fowl) are native to the Western region of Africa and rank among the oldest of the landfowl birds.

Their flock of guinea hens joined us briefly, a pleasant surprise, so Mandy and Steve took the opportunity to explain the fowls’ presence as organic pest control, more specifically, tick eradication. Our hosts explained that the guinea hens allow them and their employees to work in the fields without the stress of contracting tick-borne illnesses. They went on to share their philosophy on employing workers, providing them with a living wage, year-round work, and health benefits to support high employee retention.  

The O’Sheas were able to secure installation of their high tunnel systems with funding from an EQIP initiative. The Environmental Quality Incentives Program is accessible through the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).

We meandered on a path through the farm’s different growing fields, stopping next to one of 3 Porch’s many high tunnels made possible through EQIP’s high tunnel initiative. Mandy explained that they added extra trusses and propane heaters with temperature sensors to the tunnels to mitigate damage from snow storms or sudden cold fronts with freezing temperatures.

Bryan Barrett, NRCS agent (pictured far right) attended our Farmer Field Day in Comer, GA. Above, he shares details about EQIP’s struggle to keep up with US economic inflation. Farmer Russell Brydson (pictured far left) of Narrow Way Farm in McDonough, GA shares his experience navigating farm life post-2020.

They explained that the cost of high tunnel additions is offset by the standing protection they offer against chaotic weather. Since a single, sudden storm or cold front has the capability to impact the entire farm, the O’Sheas learned that having year-round protection is essential to crop retention. We spent some time discussing how prices for high tunnels have gone up dramatically in the past ten years. Bryan Barrett, an NRCS agent, joined us and explained that the EQIP program has not increased its cost share accordingly. EQIP reimbursement to farmers approved for the program in 2012 was around 75 percent of the cost. Today, reimbursement rates have dipped to around 50 percent. In light of the increased cost and smaller reimbursement rate, Mandy and Steve remained firm in their positive endorsement of the benefit of high tunnels. 

3 Porch Farm’s four-stall compost barn sits amongst a small bamboo forest.

We left the high tunnel and headed to the compost barn, another conservation project that the NRCS supported. The barn helps organize waste, turn it when necessary, and produce quality compost that goes back into their soil, improving its health. 

The tour concluded back at their old packing barn, where Steve broke down the cost of their most recent solar energy project, completed in 2019 — totaling a sizable 13kW power supply. They have completed five solar array projects in all, including rooftop panels on the barn, workshop, lumber/tractor shed, and parking structure. This comes to 36.5kw that powers the whole farm, producing twice the amount of energy needed so they can sell power back to the grid at a profit. They explained that between installing the solar themselves, taking advantage of the USDA’s REAP program and the federal tax credit, the return on investment was as little as 1 to 2 years. In addition, they benefit from a 80 percent reduction of their energy bill, plus, the ability to profit from selling the excess energy they produce. You can see the cost analysis from Mandy and Steve O’Shea of 3 Porch Farm below, along with links to all other shared resources from our field day. 

USDA REAP program fact sheet 

Federal tax credit 

NRCS EQIP program fact sheet 

NRCS High Tunnel Initiative 

Visit georgiaorganics.org to see all of what we do and follow us on social media @georgiaorganics for updates and weekly happenings.

Farmer Advocacy at Georgia Organics: The Next Commissioner of Agriculture

For the first time in 12 years, Georgians will elect a new commissioner of agriculture this November, with three candidates vying for the position that oversees, regulates, or assists with dozens of crucial aspects of the food and farming system in Georgia. Agriculture is the state’s leading industry, generating $74 billion in economic activity each year.

Recognizing this historic moment, and the lack of attention this important race typically garners, Georgia Organics invited all three candidates to tour a certified organic farm, get to know the organization and the local and organic food movement, and speak with five certified organic farmers.

The Democratic and Republican candidates both accepted this invitation, and agreed to allow Georgia Organics to publish the answers to a series of questions so that our constituents could have a better understanding of their stances on issues important to our growers and members.

Democratic candidate Nakita Hemingway met with us on Oct. 3, 2022, and Republican candidate Tyler Harper met with us on Oct. 7, 2022. The Libertarian candidate David Raudabaugh was invited to answer the same questions on two occasions through a portal on his campaign’s website and has yet to reply. If he does, we will promote his answers as well.

To learn more about Georgia Organics’ Farmer Advocacy work, visit georgiaorganics.org/advocacy.

From left to right, Demetrius Milling, Russell Honderd, Joe Reynolds, Monica Ponce, Nakita Hemingway, and Daryll Bartolome.

From left to right, Russell Honderd, Joe Reynolds, Tyler Harper, Monica Ponce, Judith Winfrey, Georgia Organics President and CEO Alice Rolls, Matthew Agvent, and Demitrius Milling.

To learn more about our Farmer Advocacy work, visit georgiaorganics.org/advocacy and sign up for our email newsletter, The Dirt, for updates at bit.ly/thedirtsignup.

• Tyler Harper (R)

  What do you think is the most important trend in agriculture affecting Georgia farmers right now?

  There are a number of issues currently impacting our industry.

  Agricultural land loss and access to land/capital is a significant issue. We are losing agricultural land every day, and that’s a significant loss to Georgia farmers. Right now, Georgia is projected to lose as much as 800,000 acres of agricultural land by 2040. Protecting Georgia’s Ag land is vitally important to the success of our industry. We also need to find ways to increase access to capital for our new and beginning farmers.

  Input costs & inflation are putting a squeeze on all farmers and not just commodity farmers. I feel it on my own operation every day. This year the USDA forecasts a 5 percent decline in farm revenue, and there’s been a 50 percent decline in farm revenues over the past 20 years. We need to work on a way to get the retail dollars back to the farmer.

  Labor is a significant issue. It’s in the top five if not the number one issue in agriculture today. A viable labor force is vital and that’s a really heavy problem in Georgia.

  What do you think organic farmers in Georgia need from the Department of Agriculture?

  Organic agriculture plays a vital part of agriculture in Georgia. Organic farmers need the same resources any farmer can expect from the department, and that is that we are partner in that farm’s success. It is vital for the department to ensure all of agriculture in Georgia is successful, and organic agriculture is a part of Georgia agriculture. The department can be and should be vitally important partner for Georgia’s organic farmers and groups like the Georgia Organic Peanut Association as they are getting their feet under them.

  The Georgia Development Authority, which is chaired by the commissioner of agriculture, can support organizations like GOPA and Georgia Organics through financing, education, partnerships, and marketing. We can also work with the University System of Georgia and Georgia Technical College System on partnerships for research.

  At the end of the day, I want to be a partner in making sure your operation is as successful as it can be.

  What role if any do you think the GDA should have in dealing with climate change?

  At the end of the day, the climate is always changing and the department can and should do things to allow agriculture be successful with climate change. Farmers have always and still deal with issues and forces outside of their control. Certain crops grow here now that we couldn’t grow before. Satsumas are grown in South Georgia now. It’s neat to see that. As the commissioner of agriculture, we are working to ensure the right resources are available for farmers related to climate change, from a resource and regulatory standpoint, the department can ensure Georgia farmers have access and are allowed to deal with a changing climate.

  Soil health was identified as the number one issue our farmers care about. What does soil health mean to you, and how can the GDA better support farmers who are working towards improved soil health?

  If you don’t take care of the land, the land won’t take care of you. If you don’t have proper soil health, you’ll see declining soil health, declining yields, and declining crop viability. Soil health allows you to grow crops, to grow a product.

  Utilizing organic matter is important on my farm. We utilize peanut hay and chicken manure to improve soil health on my farm. Looking after soil health is ensuring you are taking care of your farm. The department partners with education and research institutions and everyday they are working on soil health at the different research plots across the state. If we are not working on soil health every day as farmers, we won’t be very successful on our farms.

  What’s the most important function or program at the department you want to improve?

  The most important program at the department is the Georgia Grown program and the most important role of the department is ensuring that Georgia’s food supply is safe, reliable, and secure. At the end of the day, the department needs to get resources from the General Assembly to make sure our food supply is safe, secure, and reliable. Having served in the Senate the 10 years, I’ve built strong relationships with bipartisan members of the General Assembly and Governor Kemp, and I’ll be able to make sure the department has the resources necessary to achieve this goal.

  Georgia farmers are more efficient and more productive than they’ve ever been. Yet, hunger and farmer stress are both at all-time highs. What’s the solution for this paradox?

  True. Mental health & farmer stress are significant issues in agriculture in Georgia and across the nation. I know that happens to me sometimes at my farm. University of Georgia held a farmer stress summit earlier this year and they are partnering with County Extension Services to connect farmers with local healthcare providers and nonprofits. We can tap into that extension that is present is every single county in Georgia to get farmers those needed resources.

  On the hunger side, it is also a significant concern. In the legislature I was proud to work with the Governor to create and deliver funding for the Farm To Foodbank Program. Through this program we were able to get $800,000 in the state budget for foodbanks to purchase local produce that was not going to grocery stores. You know, 40 percent of the produce grown in Georgia doesn’t make it to market. So this program allows foodbanks to negotiate a price, buy from farmers, and get produce to the foodbank. Partnerships with foodbanks, religious institutions, and the Georgia Department of Agriculture will help us fight food insecurity and hunger in our state. That’s is really connecting farm to table and that is what the department can do.

• Nakita Hemingway (D)

  What do you think is the most important trend in agriculture affecting Georgia farmers right now?

  In a positive way, I believe 2020 really helped people connect the dots to just how insecure our food system really is, and how vulnerable we are to just supply chain shocks. The way that we respond has been phenomenal. I will admit a lot of people probably never even looked at my face on Facebook, but I've been in all of these gardening groups. I'm the person who they could have sworn was a 70-year-old lady giving everyone advice on how to cultivate tomatoes in your backyard for the first time.

  There is this thirst for knowledge and connectedness around our food and where it comes from and how we can be a part of that, that I believe it's a profound opportunity for us to expand upon that curiosity and grow the next generation of farmers and build out what those support systems look like. You guys, by your own admission, you went to technical colleges to learn this because you didn't want to go through an entire four-year curriculum just to get the essentials in order for you to be efficient in this new love of yours. I don't even consider it a passion or identity or a job because to farm you must love it or be born in it and trapped in it.

  That's one aspect. The negative aspect is the lack of control over the marketplaces and the opportunities in this space. We have policies that on surface they say, "This is essential to protect society, to make sure that marketplace is free, fair, equitable for everyone," but we know it's not equitable for everyone. How do we think differently about the end game goal, which is to get more of Georgia-grown foods on the tables of families and get more money in the pockets of farmers?

  For me, when I'm travelling throughout the state and I'm talking to some of the more rural farmers who don't have as much access as even you guys do, their number one question is, "How are you going to get my foods on the shelves of the grocery stores?" I tell them, "I'm not, but this is what I'm going to do." Reality is you've got to be able to scale to produce in order to get the products on the grocery stores. Then there's that extra layer of, you're selling this wholesale to them at the prices they've determined. There's no negotiating because they have all the power.

  That's now cutting into your profit margins and your end-dollar is smaller. What if we built more farmers' markets? What if we create more digital opportunities for people to know about you and build more agritourism regulations so that you have a tourism component where people are coming to tour your farm, see your operation? You're making more of your money. You're becoming more self-sustaining in your business practice. At the end of the day, that's what you really want.

  Then in about 5 years when the grocery stores are not as profitable, they'll come back and they'll want to renegotiate terms. Guess who has all the power? You do. Then you can negotiate terms that are more favorable for you. That's how we shift the narrative. We can't operate from a space of weakness when we're trying to negotiate deals. We've got to take some bold steps, so we can shift that power structure to where we are winning in the end.

  What do you think organic farmers in Georgia need from the Department of Agriculture?

  Support. When you made that apparent that that need is not there, and it is something that we need to incorporate, it's not just having somebody sit in that seat and champion those ideas, we need a whole educational component behind it.

  I do understand Georgia Organics has their system, but I do believe there's power and redundancy as well. That's what I'm looking at. Then it is how can we build community around this. It can't be so stoic that it's just government and private. There needs to be community support around that so that it's organic in its adaptation.

  What role, if any, do you think the Georgia Department of Agriculture should have in dealing with climate change?

  I think we can do a lot. The sunflowers you're growing, there's sequestering. They can remove heavy metals and toxins out of the soil. If you do the research and you look at Chernobyl, that was one of the two crops they planted. The other was cannabis and hemp to try and remove some of the radiation. I believe it's about education and educating growers on companion planning. I wouldn't say commodity farming doesn't have its value because everything has a value, but I do want to lean in more to how can we add crop rotation or companion planning so that we use less toxins in the soil.

  We do it a lot with our cut flowers, so we know which flowers that we can grow next to each other because they're going to take care of, much like what you guys do with your vegetables, that they're going to take care of each other. There's been a lot of research in the use of chrysanthemum oil and what it can do for pesticides, but also for human beings too, for figure. I believe agriculture can do a lot. There are emerging opportunities in agriculture structure as carbon farming, which is selling carbon credits to corporations by types of farming. We don't have a system for that here in Georgia. It is a new opportunity.

  I definitely want to look into that. Also going back to the Hemp cannabis conversation, let's look at it from beyond where everyone likes to take the conversation into medicinal versus the psychedelic attributes of it. Let's look at it from the environmental aspect of this as well. Then one day I would love to be able to get in zoning codes where you're not tied into the grid, and you can have solar or hydro-powered facilities because I think that's impactful. You can't do that yet in Georgia. As a matter of fact, they just passed a bill, if not this term, last term, where certain parts of South Georgia must be tied into a grid. They don't have an option.

  Soil health was identified as the number one issue our farmers care about. What does soil health mean to you, and how can the GDA better support farmers who are working towards improved soil health?

  There is a direct relationship between the global erosion of topsoil and global warming. Also, when we talk about locally grown agriculture, we don't speak about it from the components, the aspect of climate change. In the cut flower industry in the United States in the 1990s, they created the Andes Free Trade Agreement or Fair Trade Agreement, which incentivize Columbian and cocaine farmers. Columbian and Ecuadorian cocaine farmers to turn their farms into cut flower farms. Because of that all of the cut flower farms disappeared overnight, which is why we import over 80% of our flowers.

  They come mostly from South America, Africa. We get some from Europe, like Holland, different places like that. In this, they did a study and they found that, and by the way, Memorial Day is the day in which people consume the most flowers, not Valentine's Day or Mother's Day. They found in 2019 that we imported 141 million blooms. Now we're importing flowers every single day but 2019 on Valentine's Day, 141 million roses. That was the equivalent of 78,000 cars being on the road for an entire year. We're importing flowers every single day. When we lean into locally grown, that reduces the carbon footprint because we're not importing and exporting as much.

  What's the most important function or program at the department that you want to improve?

  Efficiency. I don't believe the office is running efficiently. There is a lot of waste in terms of dollars and efforts. There is a high churn rate with staffing. It's very difficult for this department to match private dollars in terms of salary and compensation for workers. Veterinarians and our shelters are overrun and they lack resources. The list is long. Pet breeding is a huge issue here in Georgia, and anyone can breed a pet.

  If the Department of Agriculture actually started charging a fee, that's revenue, a licensing fee to breeders, that's revenue for the Department of Agriculture, which means more resources for farmers, more efficiency. It's just those things is finding where we are not running in an efficient way, peeling back those layers. I'm just going to be honest with you, cleaning house because there are a lot of people who are there who have no desire to do what is required of the job and attracting and retaining the best talent. Honestly, it's a very long list of things that need to be done, but it can be done.

  Georgia farmers are more efficient and more productive than they've ever been, yet hunger and farmer stress are both at all-time highs. What's the solution for this paradox?

  The solution is you build out farmer support systems because suicide rates amongst farmers are the highest per profession. You find out where they're losing. For me, it is why is this so high? When I talk to you guys about interest rates or mortgage, that financial, when you're spending so much to run an operation that's making so little, this is a tie to your identity. It's not just a business where you can just say, "Okay, I'm done. I walk away from this."

  Farming is everything for most people who are in it. Having resources for mental health going to be very important. Building community within those communities so that when you're going to the Department of Agriculture, you're not speaking to some stranger. You're speaking to your neighbor or a friend down the street because they work in that department and they live in that community.

  It's also listening. I have my ideas about what I want to change, but it's like the comment you made about, "Well if we bring in cannabis to him, this is going to impact rental rates." Now you're bringing to me the problems you are seeing. Now, this is something new I add to my ever-never-ending list of, "Okay, so this is what we got to work on," and as when you told me we need a branch that focuses on organic farming. "Okay, so now we've added this to the list."

• Additional Resources and Methodology

  Additional Resources

  Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Harper, Hemingway Vie to Bring New Leadership to State’s Ag Dept.

  Tyler Harper’s campaign website

  Nakita Hemingway’s campaign website

  David Raudabaugh’s campaign website

  The Atlanta Press Club’s Ag Commissioner debate video.

  https://youtu.be/B4e4YWEwLU0

  The role of the Georgia Department of Agriculture

  Methodology

  Georgia Organics went to extensive efforts to be as fair and transparent with all candidates as possible.

  Both the Republican and Democratic candidates toured the Love is Love Cooperative Farm in Mansfield, Ga., and met with Georgia Organics President and CEO Alice Rolls to learn more about the state of organic agriculture in Georgia. The candidates also met with the five farm owners and workers at the Love is Love Cooperative Farm.

  Love is Love Cooperative Farm was selected as the host farm because of its relative proximity to Atlanta, which was important to both candidates, and because its ownership structure allowed candidates to meet with five farmers at one location.

  The questions we asked the candidates were compiled by Georgia Organics and expanded upon by the farmers present during the conversations, and former Georgia Organics board chair Joe Reynolds asked the candidates the questions. Hemingway agreed to be recorded during this part of the conversation. Harper did answer all of our questions in the meeting, and allowed us to take notes of his answers, but did not allow us to record the conversation. Georgia Organics sent the notes on Harper’s answers to his campaign staff, and returned them to us for publication with only minor edits.

  Georgia Organics also sent a transcript of Hemingway’s answers to her campaign and allowed them to edit her questions, if desired. Hemingway did not edit her answers.

  The answers shown in this package accurately reflect the conversations between the candidates, the farmers, and Georgia Organics.

Farmer Field Day Recap of Tractor Implements, Soil Health, and Wash Stations at Bugg Farm

By Ain Chiké 

Ain Chiké is a Georgia Organics Farmer Services Coordinator 

ACCELERATOR PROGRAM: 2022-2023 Accelerator applications are LIVE from August 1- September 12. Learn more about the year and a half long program and how you can qualify and apply here.   

Addis Bugg, Jr. and Addis Bugg, Sr. Photo Credit: The Common Market   

Last month on a warm Monday morning, the Georgia Organics Farmer Services team and about 10 farmers visited Bugg Farm in Pine Mountain, GA, to witness tractor implements in action and view the newly constructed wash station. During our stay, we learned about resting fields, considerations for building a wash station, weening cattle, and how the Georgia Organics Accelerator Program benefited Addis Bugg’s farm operations.  

Our day began with our gracious host and 2021-2022 Accelerator farmer Addis Bugg taking the attendees on a tractor-pulled hayride tour around the farm.  We gazed upon peach trees and muscadine vines sitting heavy with ripening fruit. Participants learned about the rich legacy of Bugg farm, of which Addis is the fifth generation to inherit and work the land. At one stop, Addis showcased the sabbatical field covered in bright green clover. 

Soil is a farm’s most valuable asset, and when we allow the soil to rest, it gives the Earth time to replenish nutrients that are leeched throughout a crop‘s development. Cover cropping fallow fields restores nitrogen, aids carbon sequestering, reduces erosion, and keeps pests at bay.  

Wash station BEFORE.

Wash station AFTER. photo Cred: Addis Bugg  

Our tour concluded at the newly built wash station partially funded through the Georgia Organics Accelerator Program. As we looked around the large, covered area, Addis mentioned his considerations before erecting the structure. Not wanting to build in a space where bacteria from uphill could wash downward, he noted how water flowed on the farm. A concrete base and roofing keeps water from pooling and floors from becoming slippery.

Every farm is unique, so here are some key points to consider for constructing a wash station:  

• Do the components and design adhere to grant or certification requirements?  

• What are the pros and cons of wooden, plastic, or steel materials? 

• Where is the wash station in relation to the field and storage areas? 

• What kind of flooring is best for my operation? Grass, gravel, or concrete? 

• What is financially feasible for my farm and how much will I expand over the next 5-10 years Will the wash station become too small very quickly? 

• How will I keep the area clean and free of standing water? 

• Where does rainwater runoff go after a storm?  

• Where is the sun and therefore heat, in relation to where I’ll be washing and packing produce?  

• How can I streamline my set-up to work as quickly and efficiently as possible so that produce moves quickly from the field to the wash station and into the cooler? 

• How can I keep things like bins and harvest crates off the ground at all times? 

• Will I need a designated washing space for ‘dirtier’ root crops like turnips, radishes, or potatoes? 

In the final hour of our stay, Addis happily demonstrated the capabilities and usefulness of his new tiller attachment purchased with the funding granted to Accelerator farmers. Part of knowing which new farm tools to invest in came through the guidance of Georgia Organics’ Farm Services Director, Lauren Cox. Using educational material and a guided exercise, Addis and Lauren assessed three crops for profitability and prioritized tool purchases based on their findings. “I was breaking ground with an ancient harrow that I had to grease up every three rounds. This new tiller has helped out SO much.” As we stood by and watched Addis partially till a row, it was easy to see why he was grateful for the equipment.  

TRACTOR IMPLEMENTS: Learn more about choosing and using tractor implements with this great resource from Vern Grubinger, Sustainable Vegetable Production: From Startup to Market (PDF pages 103-111) 

IMPLEMENT MAINTAINANCE: Consistent maintenance is important when it comes to extending the life and quality of your tractor implements. Check out this maintenance log template for recording scheduled cleaning, etc.  

ACCELERATOR PROGRAM: 2022-2023 Accelerator applications are LIVE from August 1- September 12. Learn more about the year and a half long program and how you can qualify and apply here.   

Last but not least, click to learn more about Bugg Farm visit their webpage or follow Bugg Family Farm on Facebook. 

To learn more about Georgia Organics, visit georgiaorganics.org and follow us on Instagram @GeorgiaOrganics, Twitter @GeorgiaOrganics, and at www.Facebook.com/GeorgiaOrganics.