Committee: Growth putting a strain on Georgia’s agriculture business

(The Center Square) — Georgia’s population grew 1.1% in 2023, according to the U.S. Census, but growth is not always a positive for the state’s agriculture business.

Growth means urban sprawl and the need for more housing and infrastructure.

Sen. Billy Hickman, R-Statesboro, chairman of the Senate Study Committee on the Preservation of Georgia’s Farmland, said the committee started because of what is going on with the location of a Hyundai plant in his region. He met with farmers who had concerns about the growth and water use.

“One of the greatest hindrances to agriculture is unplanned growth,” Hickman said in a statement he attributed to Katherine Moore, president of the Georgia Conservancy. “We know we’ve got to protect agriculture but we’ve also got to protect and provide jobs for our children and our grandchildren cause we need for our children and our grandchildren to remain in our communities.”

Will Bentley, president of the Georgia Agribusiness Council, told the committee on Monday that the state lost 544,000 acres of land from 2001 to 2016, according to the American Farmland Trust. The majority of it, 371,000 acres, was for low-density residential development. Another 173,000 acres were lost to urban development. If that acreage were still in production, it would be $443 million of agriculture production, according to the trust.

“For every one person added to the state in population, we lose 0.15 acres of farmland,” Bentley said.

Farming income dropped 34% from 2022 to 2023, Bentley said.

The loss of farms and farmers, whose average starting age is now 47, goes beyond economics.

“We talk about energy independence when it comes to oil and gas, we talk about tech independence when it comes to microchips, all those things are great, but they are not necessary. The only thing that is necessary is eating,” Bentley said. “

The agribusiness industry took another hit when Hurricane Helene swept through Georgia, causing an estimated $6.46 billion loss, according to the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. Direct farm production experienced a $1.8 billion loss, while forestry losses were at $1.3 billion.

The storm destroyed 800 chicken houses, causing $520 million in losses.

The committee’s meeting, held in Cedartown, was its fourth. One meeting will be held, Hickman said.

“We can stand on the corners and talk about it we can stand on the sidewalks and talk about it, we can fuss about it, but until the Legislature buys into things, that’s when things start happening,” Hickman said.