Arthur Tripp, State Executive Director for USDA’s Farm Service Agency in Georgia Delivers Remarks at Farmer Appreciation Breakfast

Contact: Jay Ivey
Jay.Ivey@usda.gov
706-510-5318

ATHENS, Ga., Dec. 13, 2022 – USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) State Executive Director (SED), Arthur Tripp, recently attended the Farmer Appreciation Breakfast in Valdosta, Georgia where he delivered remarks and provided farm program updates to local producers in attendance. The breakfast event and Tripp’s remarks
honored local farmers in Lowndes and Echols counties for their significant contributions to the success of Georgia’s agriculture industry.

“At the Farm Service Agency in Georgia, we recognize the importance of the work that our producers do every day. At the same time, we also recognize that farming is neither easy nor predictable,” said Tripp. “I am honored to have had the opportunity to engage with and recognize producers from Lowndes and Echols County.
Georgia FSA employees and I are committed to assisting and supporting Georgia’s farmers, livestock producers, and foresters so that Agriculture remains our state’s top industry.”

The Farmers Appreciation Breakfast is a collaborative effort to show appreciation to the hardworking producers in Lowndes and Echols County. This joint effort is spearheaded by the Lowndes County Board of Commissioners and the Valdosta Lowndes Chamber of Commerce. During the event a small and large farmer
of the year award was given to two producers who have made their mark on the local agriculture industry. The recipient of the small farmer of the year award was Fifth Day Farm, an animal petting farm owned and operated by Janet and Steve Hendley. David Corbett of South Georgia Produce was the recipient of the large farmer of the year award.

As Tripp spotlighted in his remarks, agriculture is Georgia’s largest industry, contributing an estimated $70 billion to the state’s economy annually. One out of every seven jobs in the state are related to the agriculture industry. In Georgia, FSA has 66 offices and 339 employees across the state who work to support the state’s
agricultural producers through the delivery of FSA’s farm programs and loan programs. Last year, the agency made $1.3 billion in direct payments to Georgia producers.

FSA is committed to equitably serving all farmers, ranchers, and agricultural partners through commodity prices support, conservation, disaster assistance, and loan programs. Producers should contact their local FSA county office and schedule a meeting to determine the programs and loans that best suit their operational goals. During the first visit with FSA, producers should bring documents including proof of identity, proof of ownership, leases, and entity identification status.

Producers can learn more about FSA assistance options at fsa.usda.gov or by contacting their local USDA Service Center.

USDA touches the lives of all Americans each day in so many positive ways. Under the Biden-Harris administration, USDA is transforming America’s food system with a greater focus on more resilient local and regional food production, fairer markets for all producers, ensuring access to safe, healthy, and nutritious food
in all communities, building new markets and streams of income for farmers and producers using climate smart food and forestry practices, making historic investments in infrastructure and clean energy capabilities in rural America, and committing to equity across the Department by removing systemic barriers and building a workforce more representative of America. To learn more, visit usda.gov.