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. 

Trips to U.S. Capitol Lead Congressman to On-Farm Visit to Largest Certified Organic Farm

By Michael Wall

Michael Wall is the Director of Advocacy at Georgia Organics.

(Left to right) Director of Advocacy Michael Wall, Farm Manager Logan Petrey of Grimmway Farms, and Rep. Austin Scott, vice chair of the House Ag Committee.

Over the past 12 months, Georgia Organics has traveled to the U.S. Capitol three times to argue for a more organic-friendly Farm Bill. On each of the trips, Georgia Organics brought along farmers who are active advocates for more support for small- to mid-scale sustainable growers. 

In all, Georgia Organics, along with farmers Russell Brydson of Narrow Way Farm in McDonough, Ga., Logan Petrey of Grimmway Farms in Lake Park, Ga., and Georgia Organics Board Chair CheFarmer Matthew Raiford of Gilliard Farms in Brunswick, Ga., have met with the following members of Congress, or their legislative staff: 

• Rep. Austin Scott, R-GA 8th District, Vice Chair of the House Ag Committee 

• Sen. Rev. Raphael Warnock, D-GA, Member of the Senate Ag Committee 

• Sen. John Boozman, R-AR, Ranking Member Senate Ag Committee 

• Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-MI, Chair of the Senate Ag Committee  

• Rep. Glenn “GT” Thompson, R- PA 15th District, Chair of the House Ag Committee Chair 

• Rep. David Scott, D-GA 13th District, Ranking Member of the House Ag Committee  

• Sen. Jon Ossoff, D-GA  

• Rep. Nikema Williams, D-GA 5th District 

• Rep. Sanford Bishop, D-GA 2nd District, Member of the House Ag and Appropriations Committees 

Almost all of the conversations were civil and respectful, with Congressional members and staff who are working hard for their constituents and the agriculture community. 

“One of our top goals during these meetings is to encourage members of Congress and their staff to visit certified organic operations in Georgia, to hear more directly from our farmers and observe their operations firsthand. ”

Georgia Organics, and the farmers with us, pushed for more support for organic and sustainable farmers, especially when it comes to safety nets and risk management, conservation programs operated by the USDA’s Natural Resource Conservation Service, and the needs of farmers who are attempting to transition to organic certification. The trips to Washington, D.C., are made possible because of partnerships and support provided by the Organic Trade Association, the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition, and funding provided by Organic Valley and Farm Aid. 

(From left to right) Farmer Julia Asherman of Rag & Frass Farm surveys crops with Sen. Jon Ossoff’s Legislative Correspondent Caroline Li and Legislative Director Anna Cullen.

One of our top goals during these meetings is to encourage members of Congress and their staff to visit certified organic operations in Georgia, to hear more directly from our farmers and observe their operations firsthand.  

Two such meetings occurred this Summer. The first was with hosted by farmer Julia Asherman of Rag N Frass Farm in Jeffersonville, Ga., where we met Sen. Ossoff’s Legislative Correspondent Caroline Li and Legislative Director Anna Cullen. 

The second on-farm meeting was held at Grimmway Farms with Rep. Austin Scott and farm manager Logan Petrey. Grimmway Farms, with facilities and acreage in Georgia, Florida, California, Washington, and Colorado, operates the largest certified organic farm east of Mississippi, and the largest certified organic carrot farm in the world. 

“The trips to Washington, D.C., are made possible because of partnerships and support provided by the Organic Trade Association, the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition, and funding provided by Organic Valley and Farm Aid. ”

— Director of Advocacy for Georgia Organics, Michael Wall

The farm tours and discussions led to a deeper understanding of the unique challenges and promising economic opportunities that accompany certified organic production in Georgia. 

Most of the obstacles our farmers and ranchers face could be resolved with a Farm Bill that prioritizes soil health and recognizes the multitude of solutions organic farmers provide for battling climate change and preventable, health-related illnesses. 

Curious about our current policy priorities? Learn about the importance of the Farm Bill, as dictated by our farmers, here. 

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. 

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).   

Georgia Organics' Conference & Expo is Growing and Adapting for More Meaningful Impact

Georgia Organics is pleased to announce that our long-beloved Conference & Expo is growing and adapting for more meaningful impact. 

For well over 20 years, Georgia Organics’ Conference & Expo has birthed incredible partnerships and collaboration in the Georgia farming and organic agriculture space. 

With the post-pandemic return of Conference this February 2023 in Perry, GA, we were amazed by the turnout and positive feedback. It reminded us of the deep value of this gathering.

It’s a crucial space for hardworking farmers and food leaders across the state to gather, collaborate, and refuel. It directly speaks to our Strategic Plan values of Farmer Prosperity and Community & Collective Impact. 

2023 Georgia Organics Conference & Expo, all photography: Jenna Shea Photojournalism

In the months following our 2023 Conference, we have weighed feedback and the value of this event in the scope of our strategic work and decided to shift to an every-other-year schedule. 

GEORGIA ORGANICS CONFERENCE & EXPO IS NOW BI-ANNUAL 

As a statewide organization and leader in the Southeastern agriculture and community food space, we acknowledge that we must diversify how we gather—regionally, statewide, and locally—and ensure that we’re highly collaborative and foster maximum impact when we do gather. Change can be hard, but to stay relevant, Conference must evolve. 

The post-pandemic world and increased needs for climate responsiveness and food equity action prompt us to reevaluate how and where we spend our time as an organization. The decision to shift Conference to a bi-annual schedule will give Georgia Organics’ staff the capacity to plan and execute these meaningful gatherings. And in Conference “off-years,” the team will remain focused on our increased direct services work with farmers and community partners across the state. Explore this work and the pillars of our Strategic Plan in our recent Impact Report at georgiaorganics.org/impact.  

We will launch this bi-annual schedule in a big way: the 2025 Conference & Expo will be a partner-led, regional Conference serving farmers and sustainable ag leaders across the Southeast. 

We will not hold a Conference & Expo in 2024. 

GEORGIA ORGANICS’ CONFERENCE IN 2025 WILL BE A REGIONAL EVENT  

The 2025 Regional Conference will reflect the deepening, collaborative nature of our work. We need collective wisdom and collective impact at this pivotal moment.  

The current needs of farmers and local food communities, plus the challenges of climate change far exceed the state of Georgia. We’re asking how can we activate both hyperlocal and statewide networks for a more robust web and thriving Georgia food system? 

We are currently working in partnership with organizations and local leaders in 12 sister states in the South to build a regional network. In the short term, the network will provide strategic direction and input in developing the 2025 Regional Conference themes, track topics, and other core elements. In the long term, we hope that the network will continue to grow and serve the unique needs of our region and our farmers. 

One thing is clear in these conversations: This is an event centered on sustainable, organic, and regenerative farmers. We also are aligned on the themes of joy, diversity, and renewal for this exciting re-seeding of a regional conference. We aim for this event to chart the path laid by the much-missed Southern Sustainable Agriculture Working Group (SSAWG) regional conference. 

Georgia Organics President & CEO Alice Rolls, who is spearheading the Regional Conference network, notes of the decision to host our first bi-annual Conference as a regional event: “the environmental, policy, and resource challenges in sustainable agriculture show us that we need to be more sophisticated in approach, moving beyond state lines. This is about regional knowledge-sharing of agriculture and community food work.” She adds, “our aim is to lift up the farmers in our community and attend to our neighbors, create a welcoming, inclusive, productive space.” 

HOW YOU CAN GET INVOLVED 

We have a lot of work ahead, not only in Georgia Organics ongoing direct service work and community support to Georgia organic farmers, but so that we produce a 2025 Regional Conference that drives impact beyond Georgia. 

We’re currently seeking additional affiliate and steering partners for the 2025 Regional Conference and encourage members of local farming and sustainable ag policy communities to reach out to us at alice [at] georgiaorganics [dot] org. Closer to the regional event, we will issue calls for volunteers via our email newsletter, The Dirt. 

Between now and 2025, we will prioritize in-person gatherings across the state for farmers, including the continuation of our Farmer Field Days, farmer happy hours, and more. Our time and efforts remain invested in farmer prosperity-driving work through the direct services of our Farmer Services program. Explore this work at farmerservices.georgiaorganics.org and sign up for Grower News at bit.ly/growernews. 

Our Community Collaboration team is also gathering and collaborating around the state—currently in Savannah and Waycross—activating local networks for local food and farm partners on strategies to reduce childhood food insecurity. Learn more at georgiaorganics.org/familyfarmshare. 

Furthermore, our Farmer Advocacy work continues, with heavy focus on the 2023 Farm Bill and the active state meetings, D.C. fly-ins with key organic partners, and active advocating for the needs of organic farmers, led by Georgia Organics’ Director of Farmer Advocacy Michael Wall. Learn more at georgiaorganics.org/advocacy. 

We remain steadfast in our day-to-day commitments to organic farmers and constantly evolving to provide robust community support and activation. 

Stay tuned, we cannot wait to see you in 2025! 

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). 

FAMILY FARM SHARE PROGRAM EXPANDS TO SAVANNAH

Georgia Organics and Forsyth Farmers Market Partner on Strategies to Reduce Childhood Food Insecurity 

The Savannah Family Farm Share Partners: (Back row, left to right) Director of Early Childhood Education and Care of Greenbriar Children’s Center Jennifer McMichael, Executive Director of Forsyth Farmers’ Market Dr. Deidre Grim, Food Coordinator of Greenbriar Children’s Center April Mixon, Farm Truck Manager of Forsyth Farmers’ Market Brian Heyward, Community Collaborations Coordinator of Georgia Organics Yaza Sarieh, and Community Collaborations Director of Georgia Organics Kimberly Della Donna .

(Front row, left to right) Director of Community Engagement and Market Manager of Forsyth Farmers’ Market Asia Harold, Community Collaborations Manager of Georgia Organics Kimberly Koogler, Director of Education of Forsyth Farmers’ Market Tasha Wei, and Executive Director of Greenbriar Children’s Center Gena P. Taylor.

SAVANNAH (Aug. 3, 2023) – Georgia Organics and The Forsyth Farmers Market announce the launch of Savannah Family Farm Share, a group style Community Supported Agriculture program designed to address childhood food insecurity for children ages birth to five while developing a new outlet for small scale farmers. The goals of this initiative are to expand opportunities for small scale farmers, increase access to organic and healthy food and educate families about how to prepare and enjoy a weekly bounty of fresh, local food.  

Beginning with the Greenbriar Children’s Center, Savannah Family Farm Share hopes to enroll up to 800 members this year, in a low-cost vegetable subscription program specifically designed for families with young children enrolled in Early Care and Education centers.    

The Family Farm Share Program is primarily funded by the Atlanta Falcons Youth Foundation and Takeda, though Georgia Organics has raised over $1.5 million to expand the program ten Georgia communities by 2025. The Savannah Family Farm Share program builds on the work of the Waycross Family Farm Share Pilot that began with a Community Transformation Grant of $75,000 from the Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning (DECAL)  

The Savannah Family Farm Share program is one of five communities where Georgia Organics is facilitating a local collaborative, joining Head Start communities in Ware, Bacon and Pierce counties.  

The project commenced in May, and work is underway identifying local farmers for participation. Email market(at)ffm-sav(dot)org if you are a Savannah area farmer interested in working with the collaborative. In July, the collaborative began engaging farmers and early care families to discuss their needs and preferences for fresh food. Progress and stories of the pilot program will be shared at georgiaorganics.org/familyfarmshare and on Georgia Organics’ and partners’ social media. 

 “Forsyth Farmers’ Market is ecstatic to be a part of such a great program that will strengthen our local food system by financially supporting our local farmers while eliminating the barriers that make it hard for residents to access fresh local produce. Food apartheid areas are becoming more recognizable and opportunities to patronize our local farmers are limited. Thus, making the expansion of the Family Farm Share program an ideal collaboration to meet both needs.” Dr. Deidre Grim, Executive Director, Forsyth Farmers’ Market Inc. 

“What an awesome collaborative opportunity to improve the health of our community; to increase the knowledge of families about fresh food and to increase access fresh produce to families.” “Greenbriar is excited to be an active participant of this program that will yield healthy outcomes for families and children.” Gena P. Taylor, Executive Director, Greenbriar Children’s Center.  

“What I love about Family Farm Share is we’re meeting families where they’re at, within their daily routines at daycare and early care centers, while connecting small farmers to new markets close to their farms.  We hope to make Savannah a model that other communities can adapt and make their own.” Suzanne Girdner, Community Outreach Manager, Georgia Organics   

### 

Forsyth Farmers’ Market Inc 

Forsyth Farmers’ Market is so much more than a farmers market because they offer programming and services 7 days a week. The organization holds a weekly market in Savannah’s Forsyth Park Saturdays from 9am - 1pm. Farm Truck 912, their mobile farmers’ market makes stops throughout the community with the intention of eliminating barriers to access to fresh locally sourced produce. Forsyth Farmers’ Market accepts and double SNAP/EBT benefits at the Saturday market and on Farm Truck 912. They also offer a variety of other programming and education to build community and create a sense of place. Click here to learn more about the Forsyth Farmers Market. 

Georgia Organics celebrates National Farm to School Month: Pepper Palooza

Every year, Georgia Organics coordinates a state-wide campaign to get kids across Georgia eating, growing, and learning about a new fruit or vegetable during October Farm to School Month. The lessons, activities, resources, and workshops reach over one million students statewide through classroom, cafeteria, and community educators who sign up to participate. This year’s celebration: Pepper Palooza! Sign up for FREE to access digital resources for families and educators at bit.ly/livinlavidaokra. Click here and here to view additional free resources from Georgia Organics’ Farm to School team to engage kids with fresh food! 

ABOUT SAVANNAH FAMILY FARM SHARE PARTNERS   

About Georgia Organics 

Georgia Organics is a member-supported, non-profit organization that champions organic agriculture and healthy families by prioritizing farmer prosperity, engaging children with good food in their cafeterias and classrooms, and convening local leaders to address food access issues by making organic and local food accessible to all. The organization has been rooted in providing direct support to small and organic farmers across our state since the 1970s, before formally incorporating as a 501(c)(3) in 1997. For more information, visit georgiaorganics.org.  

About Forsyth Farmers Market 

Forsyth Farmers’ Market Inc. is Savannah's largest food and horticulture market. Each Saturday over 50 vendors offer fresh produce, pastured meats, local honey, artisan dairy and cheeses, craft breads, baked goods, and a wide variety of prepared foods. All vendors come from within a 200-mile radius of Savannah. We envision a just and equitable food system that has an interest in producing food for the health of citizens and the environment. For more information, please visit forsythfarmersmarket.com.

About Greenbriar Children’s’ Center  

Greenbriar Children’s Center is a private, nonprofit organization that promotes the healthy development of children and the strengthening of families through a multitude of services. These services include early childhood education and care; family and individual counseling and support services; an emergency shelter for children ages 11-18 and Project Safe Place. For more information, please visit www.greenbriarchildrenscenter.org or call 912-234-3431.