In March, U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff (Ga.-D) toured several farming enterprises in Georgia to discuss the industry’s needs ahead of the anticipated farm bill reauthorization by Congress later this year.

March 13, Ossoff met in Fort Valley with Fort Valley State University President Paul Jones to discuss resources to boost Georgia’s poultry workforce. Ossoff secured bipartisan support to help the university add a poultry science major to bolster a highly skilled poultry workforce for one of Georgia’s top economic drivers.

He then travelled to south Georgia’s JoNina Farm, where Lindy and Perry Savelle grow citrus near the Florida line. During Christmas, a once-in-a-generation freeze zapped the orchard, along with most of Georgia’s growing citrus industry. Using frost protection techniques, the Savelles and other growers managed the trees, for the most part, through the harsh weather. There was damage, but citrus blooms were once again returning to the trees as spring heated up.

The Savelles were one of the earliest champions of Georgia’s growing citrus industry. Lindy is president of the Georgia Citrus Association.

“I’m here to make sure that Georgia’s fast-growing citrus sector is represented as we take up the farm bill in the Senate,” Ossoff told Southeast Farm Press during orchard stop. “I’ll be returning to the Senate now with a very precise understanding of Georgia citrus growers’ needs in terms of research, facilities and other forms of support.”

At the citrus orchard, Ossoff and Lindy discussed key citrus industry needs, including shoring-up supply chains, expanding facilities to keep up with growing demand, and strengthening research on diseases and pests that pose a unique threat to the citrus industry.

Ossoff the next day visited Premium Peanut in Douglas, Ga., the grower-owned facility is the world’s largest peanut sheller. Peanut industry leaders there told Ossoff farmers need support to export products and increase research on pests and threats to the peanut industry.

He also met with Georgia blueberry growers in Alma. The industry faces challenges from market disrupting imports.

The current farm bill was passed in 2018 and is set to expire in September of this year, which will require Congressional actions to authorize a new one. Many current members of both the Senate and House were not in office when the last farm bill was debated and approved, including Ossoff, who was elected in 2020.