09/03/2026
In late August, our team gathered in Perry for the 2026 Ag Issues Summit. Below is a comprehensive recap of the key discussions, insights, and takeaways from the event.
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“Ag Issues Summit focuses on farm sustainability amid rising pressures”
By Jay Jones
PERRY – State legislators and agricultural leaders gathered in Perry for the annual Ag Issues Summit to find ways to protect Georgia farms amid economic pressures facing the sector.
The meeting has served as an open discussion on issues facing the state’s agricultural sector and could lead to proposed legislation in the upcoming Georgia General Assembly session. This year’s meeting was different because it focused on a single topic – farm sustainability – and doubled as the first meeting of a joint study committee of legislators who will gather information and submit a report to the full General Assembly later this year.
The summit and the study committee are hosted by Sen. Russ Goodman, chairman of the Senate Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Committee, and Rep. Robert Dickey, chairman of the House Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Committee.
Goodman, R-Cogdell, said he hopes the committee can find solutions by hearing directly from farmers and industry leaders about the challenges they face.
“Chairman Dickey and I are both farmers,” Goodman said. “We understand that family farms are navigating rising costs, workforce shortages, market uncertainty and other challenges. The creation of this study committee reflects our commitment to listening to producers, learning from industry experts and developing practical, long-term solutions to keep Georgia’s family farms strong for generations to come.”
Georgia’s agricultural community faces a severe economic crisis characterized by razor-thin profit margins, soaring input costs and mounting financial pressure. Producers across the state are caught in an intense cost-price squeeze that threatens the viability of family farms.
A major warning sign came earlier this year at the University of Georgia Ag Forecast, where reports showed farm bankruptcies have risen annually since 2023.
Stanley Fletcher, a professor of agricultural policy at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College in Tifton, echoed that sentiment in research presented to the study committee. Fletcher has tracked a group of farmers since 2001 to document their operations’ crop losses and gains.
In his study, Fletcher noted that the average farm was 2,200 acres with a mix of peanuts, cotton and corn. He emphasized a significant increase in total cash flow costs – up 60% since 2013 – alongside declining prices: down 3.6% for peanuts, 3.7% for cotton and 2.5% for corn. Without government payments, peanuts still showed a profit, but cotton and corn farms faced significant losses.
Fletcher said farmers facing this cost-price squeeze are farming away their equity, and structural changes are needed to support the industry.
“I think that is why bankers are not loaning unless farmers have solar panels on their farm,” Fletcher told the study committee.
“They know they will make some money, so they can pay off some of the debt. I know many farmers who were told by banks that they had to sell some of their land to get their debt down, but this year, 2026, is going to be a major bellwether.”
Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper also serves on the study committee and outlined seven key points for addressing the challenges facing the state’s agriculture:
-Addressing consolidation of processors and wholesalers: Harper noted that 85% of U.S. beef is packed by four companies. He also said national food distributor Sysco’s proposed acquisition of Restaurant Depot would further consolidate the food chain, limiting consumer choices and farmers’ options to sell crops.
-Expanding market access: Harper touted trade missions this year to Brazil, Thailand and India to find new markets for Georgia commodities.
-Leveling the playing field: Harper argued the state must find ways to lower costs for farmers to get crops to market in order to compete internationally against lower-cost producers.
-Access to capital: Harper called this a key issue in helping the next generation of farmers obtain land and equipment.
-Access to value-added product development: “We do a really good job of growing commodities in our state,” Harper said. “We can do a better job of adding value to that product before it ever leaves our state.”
-Disaster preparedness: Harper noted that responding to emergencies like Hurricane Helene is important not just for immediate relief, but for the long-term recovery of farmers and rural communities.
-Strengthening rural communities: Helping rural communities develop services and infrastructure. The Rural Center, a branch of the Georgia Department of Agriculture, provides grants for communities to invest in healthcare services and economic development.
“I don’t want this committee to be measured by how many meetings we hold, or how many people testify, or how many pages are in the final report,” Harper added. “I think we should measure it based on whether family farming in our state will have a better chance moving forward, and whether we’ll be able to sustain it over the next 25, 50, 250 years because of the work of this committee. Our responsibility isn’t simply to preserve the industry we inherited. Our responsibility is to make sure that there is an agricultural industry worth inheriting for the generations behind us.”
The study committee will meet three more times: Sept. 28 at Berry College in Rome; Oct. 28 at South Georgia College in Douglas; and Nov. 20 at the University of Georgia in Athens. The committee will release details regarding location and time ahead of each meeting.
