Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tyler J. Harper is urging Georgians to prepare as extremely cold weather moves into parts of the state, with a potential winter storm expected to bring ice and snow beginning Friday night and lasting through the weekend. Harper says it is critical for pet and livestock owners to take precautions now to keep animals safe and warm, and he also warns that prolonged power outages at agricultural and food production facilities can lead to economic losses and serious food safety concerns.
The Georgia Department of Agriculture says Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) has been confirmed at a commercial poultry operation in Walker County, marking Georgia’s first confirmed HPAI case of 2026 and the fourth case in a commercial poultry operation in the state since the nationwide outbreak began in February 2022.
State officials say the producer noticed increased mortality on Sunday, January 11, and contacted the Georgia Poultry Laboratory Network. Samples were collected and tested Monday, with the positive result confirmed by the state lab Monday evening and later confirmed by USDA’s National Veterinary Services Laboratory on Tuesday, January 13.
The Georgia Department of Agriculture’s Emergency Management Team deployed to the site to begin depopulation, disposal, cleaning, and disinfection. The affected premises housed approximately 71,264 broiler breeders, and response operations are expected to continue through the week.
A 10-kilometer (6.2-mile) quarantine zone has been established around the operation. Officials say all commercial poultry operations within that radius are under quarantine and will undergo surveillance testing for at least two weeks, and the affected premises has been secured so that only authorized personnel may enter.
The Northwest Georgia Beekeepers Association is inviting area residents to a special club meeting focused on protecting honeybee hives from pesticide exposure, with guest speakers scheduled to answer questions and share practical information for local beekeepers.
Georgia Farm Bureau President Tom McCall (left) presents Chattooga County Farm Bureau President Bill Bryan with the Planter Award during the 88th Annual Georgia Farm Bureau Convention on Jekyll Island.
Chattooga County Farm Bureau continues to demonstrate its commitment to agriculture education and community involvement across Northwest Georgia. The organization says it is grateful to be an active part of the local community and values opportunities to interact with residents and students to promote agricultural awareness.
The Georgia Farm Bureau is meeting on Jekyll Island this week, bringing farmers and rural community leaders together from across the state to focus on agriculture, advocacy, and the issues facing Georgia’s farm families.
Georgia Farm Bureau members are meeting on Jekyll Island this week for the organization’s 88th annual convention, a three-day gathering running December 7th through the 9th at the Jekyll Island Convention Center.
Farmers from across Northwest Georgia are invited to a reception and meet-and-greet with Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper on Tuesday, December 16, 2025, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. The event will be held at Happy Valley Farm, located at 490 Hutcheson Road in Rossville (30741).
Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tyler J. Harper announced Monday that the Georgia Department of Agriculture (GDA) has officially released the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) Control Area in Gordon County. The release follows the successful completion of all mandated testing and response protocols, with no new detections of the virus reported.
