Georgia Organics’ Farmer Advocacy News: Georgia Farmers Inform Our 2023 Farm Bill Priorities

By Michael Wall

Michael Wall is Georgia Organics’ Director of Advocacy and previous Director of Farmer Services. 

In 2021, the Georgia Organics board of directors passed a Strategic Plan that put the organization on a new path for advocacy, farm policy, and movement building. A new division of Georgia Organics, Farmer Advocacy, was launched in January 2022.  

To better understand the policy priorities of our farmers, Georgia Organics Farmer Advocacy, with input from Listen4Good and the Georgia Organics Advocacy and Programs Committee, launched a survey initiative. Over the spring and early summer of 2022, Georgia Organics distributed a survey to more than 1,000 farmers to determine their highest policy priorities. 

The results of that survey, featuring the input from 128 organic and sustainable farmers, are below. The survey data has also been published as a report (available here) that has been shared with dozens of advocacy partners and Congressional lawmakers. 

Demographic data on the farmers who filled out the survey is also provided at the conclusion of the survey’s results summary below.  

(Note: Funding to support the facilitation of this report was received from The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition. Georgia Organics’ Farmer Advocacy efforts have also received funding from Organic Valley and Farm Aid.) 

Rep. Austin Scott, vice chair of the U.S. House Committee on Agriculture, second from left, with farmer Russell Brydson of Narrow Way Farms, Director of Farmer Advocacy Michael Wall, and Legislative Director Zach Roberts. 

Survey Question: Which government functions are most important for your farm’s success? 

The majority of survey participants cited USDA programming on conservation as most important to their farm’s success.

The following statistics reflect the total survey participant responses, ranked by highest to lowest percentages:

1. USDA Programming on conservation, such as the National Resource Conservation Service (NRCS); 58.6%

2. USDA Programming on crop insurance and access to capital, such as the Farm Service Agency (FSA); 40.23%

3. Local zoning code and ordinances and code enforcement; 29.89%

4. State regulations and enforcement; 21.84%

5. State licensing; 18.39%

6. National Organic Program (NOP) standards and enforcement; 12.64%

7. Local licensing; 10.34%

8. National Organic Program (NOP) organic transitioning support; 8.05%

Survey Question: Which institutions are most important for your farm’s success? Please select the two most important to your farm. 

The majority of survey participants cited USDA offices and Land Grant universities as the two institutions most important to their farm’s success.

The following statistics reflect the total survey participant responses, ranked by highest to lowest percentages:

1. USDA offices, such as FSA, NRCS; 49.43% 

2. Land Grant universities, because of their research, education, and extension offices; 44.83% 

3. Other farmer services organizations, such as the Southeastern African-American Farmers Organic Network (SAAFON), Global Growers, Food Well Alliance, Southwest Georgia Project, etc.; 36.78% 

4. Advocacy groups that address issues such as climate change, soil health, and racial equity; 35.63% 

5. The Georgia Department of Agriculture (GDA); 33.33% 

Survey Question: Which of the following issues are most important for your farm’s success? 

The majority of survey participants cited healthy soil and access to capital and USDA programs as issues most important to their farm’s success, followed by a tie between conservation programs and land-ownership.

The following statistics reflect the total survey participant responses, ranked by highest to lowest percentages:

1. Healthy soil; 52.87% 

2. Accessing USDA programs; 42.53% 

3. Access to capital; 32.18% 

4. Climate change; 29.89% 

5. (tie) Conservation programs: access and cost share amounts; 28.74% 

6. (tie) Land-ownership; 28.74% 

7. Health insurance costs and access; 25.29% 

8. Racial equity; 18.39% 

9. Building a statewide sustainable ag policy coalition; 13.79% 

10. Succession planning; 8.05% 

11. Access to land zoned for agriculture; 6.9% 

12. Crop insurance and subsidies; 5.75% 

13. Heirs property issues; 4.6% 

---

POLICY IMPLICATIONS: What We Gathered from Listening to Georgia Farmers

Based on the feedback provided by our farmers, Georgia Organics recommends the following policy shifts:

• Increase funding and access to the Farm Bill’s Title II: Conservation section. 

• Double the cost-share rates for all soil health-related conservation activities and contracts available in the National Resource Conservation Service’s (NRCS) Environmental Quality Improvement Program (EQIP) and Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP).  

• Invest more deeply in organic research, including the SARE (Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education) program. 

• Provide training and outreach for Approved Insurance Providers (AIPs) to ensure equitable access to RMA’s crop insurance programs for small-scale and organic producers. 

• Ensure organic integrity and a strong organic marketplace by continuously improving the National Organic Program (NOP). 

• Increase and consolidate the Farm Service Agency’s (FSA) organic cost-share reimbursements from two applications capped at $750 to one application capped at $1,500 per farm per year. 

• Make the recently announced Organic Transition Initiative (OTI) a permanent program. 

• Allow the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program (BFRDP) grant funds to be spent on infrastructure needs, such as seeds, inputs, implements, irrigation, harvest bins, and washing stations. 

---

Demographics of Survey Participants

The following statistics reflect the total survey participant responses, ranked by highest to lowest percentages:

Relationship to Farming 

Hover your cursor over the chart for descriptors.

The majority of survey participants identified as farm owners. There was a small tie between those identifying as aspiring farmers and farmer support providers.

1. Farm owner – 77.91%

2. Farm Manager - 22.09% 

3. Farm Worker – 17.44%

4. Community organizer – 13.95%

5. Other – 9.3%

6. Agricultural educator – 6.98%

7. Aspire to own farmland – 5.81%

8. Agricultural researcher – 3.49%

9. Don’t farm but aspire to (tie) – 2.33%

10. Farmer support service (tie) – 2.33%

11. Ag student – 1.16%

Farm and Production Type

Hover your cursor over the chart for descriptors.

The majority of survey participants claimed their main production to be diversified vegetable crops, along with fruits and eggs.

1. Diversified veg - 78.67% 

2. Fruits – 46.67% 

3. Eggs – 34.67% 

4. Mushrooms – 20% 

5. Goats or other small ruminants for meat – 10.67% 

6. Beef cattle (tie) – 8% 

7. Commodities (tie) – 8% 

8. Chicken for meat – 5.33% 

9. Hogs for meat – 4% 

10. Grains (tie) – 2.67% 

11. Goat milk (tie) – 2.67% 

12. Row crops for livestock feed (tie) – 2.67% 

Acreage 

Hover your cursor over the chart for descriptors.

The majority of survey participants claimed to farm on somewhere between less than an acre and 20 acres.

1. <1 acre – 19.05% 

2. 1 to 3 – 17.86% 

3. 4 to 10 – 17.86% 

4. 10 to 20 – 14.29% 

5. 30 to 50 – 9.52% 

6. 50 to 100 – 7.14% 

7. 100 to 300 – 7.14% 

8. 300 to 500 – 2.38% 

9. 500 to 1,000 – 3.57% 

10. 1,000 to 2,000 – 1.19% 

Age

Hover your cursor over the chart for descriptors.

The majority of survey participants identified as ages 35 to 64.

1. 35-44 years – 38.55% 

2. 45-54 – 20.48% 

3. 55-64 – 15.66% 

4. 65-74 – 14.46%% 

5. 25-34 – 7.23% 

6. 17 or younger – 2.41% 

7. 75 or older – 1.20% 

8. 18-24 – none 

Racial Identity

Hover your cursor over the chart for descriptors.

The majority of survey participants identified as white.

1. White – 65.85%

2. Black or African American – 25.61% * 

3. Asian or Asian American – 6.10%

4. Native American or Alaska Native – 6.10% 

5. Hispanic or Latino/a/x – 4.88% 

6. Middle Eastern or North African – 1.22% 

*In the U.S., Black farmers make up 1.4 percent of the farming community, and in Georgia, 4 percent, according to the USDA Census of Agriculture.  

Gender

Hover your cursor over the chart for descriptors.

The majority of survey participants identified as men.

1. Man – 57.5% 

2. Woman – 41.25% 

3. Non-Binary – 1.25% 

Future Farmer Engagement  

Hover your cursor over the chart for descriptors.

The majority of survey participants claimed they were in favor of supporting an advocacy committee and were willing to meet with Georgia-elected officials.

1. Are willing to support an advocacy committee – 40 farmers 

2. Are willing to meet with state-level elected officials – 38 farmers 

3. Are willing to meet with USDA/GDA officials – 35 farmers 

4. Are willing to meet with federal-level elected officials – 29 farmers 

5. Not interested - 22 farmers 

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