Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Pushes Back On Trump Beef Import Plan

Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper is raising concerns about President Donald Trump’s plan to temporarily allow more foreign beef into the United States, saying the move could undercut American cattle producers just as they are beginning to recover from several difficult years.

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Georgia Agriculture Officials Warn Of Fake Farmers Market Vendor Scam

The Georgia Department of Agriculture is warning farmers, vendors and small-business owners about a fraudulent event advertised on social media as being held at the Atlanta State Farmers Market.

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Georgia Emerges From Historic Drought As Northwest Georgia Sees Major Recovery

 

After months of severe drought that brought dry pastures, stressed crops and concerns over water supplies, Georgia has experienced a dramatic turnaround — and Northwest Georgia is among the areas seeing substantial improvement.

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Georgia Meat Processors Can Now Sell Products Nationwide Under New USDA Agreement

Small meat processors across Georgia will soon have access to customers across the country following a new agreement between the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Georgia Department of Agriculture.

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Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Calls For Stronger Protections For Specialty Crop Farmers

Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tyler J. Harper is urging federal trade officials to strengthen protections for American specialty crop producers as negotiations continue over the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA).

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UGA Students Develop AI Tool To Help Georgia Farmers Reduce Paperwork

University of Georgia students are helping Georgia farmers spend less time behind a desk and more time in the field through a new artificial intelligence-powered platform called FieldLog.

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State Agriculture Officials Continue Tracking Yellow-Legged Hornet In Georgia

The Georgia Department of Agriculture says its Plant Protection team continued efforts in June to track and eradicate the Yellow-Legged Hornet, an invasive species that poses a threat to honeybees and Georgia’s agriculture industry.

According to the department, crews found 125 hornets and eradicated three nests during the month of June.

Agriculture officials say hornet activity increases as temperatures rise. Beekeepers and residents are encouraged to watch for nests and for “hawking” behavior around beehives, where hornets hover near hives and prey on bees.

Anyone who believes they have found a Yellow-Legged Hornet nest in Georgia should contact the Georgia Department of Agriculture at yellow.legged.hornet@agr.georgia.gov.

Protect Pets and Livestock During This Week’s Extreme Heat

With dangerous heat and heat index values climbing above 100 degrees across Northwest Georgia, veterinarians and agricultural experts are urging pet owners and livestock producers to take extra precautions to protect animals from heat-related illness.

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New Georgia Program Aims to Protect Farmland From Development

Georgia is taking steps to slow the loss of farmland as rapid growth continues across the state.

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State Agriculture Officials Ask Georgians To Watch For Yellow-Legged Hornets

Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper said this week that the Georgia Department of Agriculture is continuing its efforts to track, trap and eradicate the invasive yellow-legged hornet, and he is encouraging residents to help by watching for signs of the destructive insect.

Harper is asking Georgians to be on the lookout for possible secondary nests and to report any suspected sightings to the state.

Residents should watch for hornet activity around beehives, especially during the morning hours before noon and again after 5 PM.

Possible secondary nests may appear as large, round or oval-shaped structures located high in trees or other elevated areas. Officials say the nests are typically gray or brown and made of layered, paper-like material. Depending on temperatures, they may be visible from late summer through winter.

Anyone who believes they have spotted a yellow-legged hornet nest should report the sighting to the Georgia Department of Agriculture by email at yellow.legged.hornet@agr.georgia.gov.