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Farmers, legislators attend breakfast hosted by Fort Valley State

by Russell Boone Jr.

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Farmers, ranchers and others liseten to presentations during 44th Ham and Egg Legislative Breakfast held at Fort Valley State University on April 9.

 

Farmers, ranchers and the public gathered at Fort Valley State University (FVSU) to receive the latest legislative news involving agriculture while enjoying an old-fashioned country breakfast. 

FVSU’s Cooperative Extension hosted the 44th annual Ham and Egg Legislative Breakfast on Thursday, April 9, at the C.W. Pettigrew Farm and Life Community Center on FVSU’s campus. More than 150 people attended the event.

U.S. Rep. Sanford D. Bishop Jr. of Georgia’s 2nd Congressional District presided over the breakfast. Other legislators making remarks included State Reps. Robert Dickey (District 134) and Patty Marie Stinson (District 150).

Tyler Harper, Georgia’s commissioner of agriculture, also gave an update on the state of Georgia’s agriculture industry.

Bishop said that 2025 was a bumpy and rough ride due to executive orders that circumvented the constitutional role Congress usually has in appropriating funds.

“Funds that the appropriations committee in Congress passed and provided that were in fact signed into law, were paused, frozen, withheld and rescinded,” the lawmaker said.

U.S. Rep. Sanford D. Bishop Jr. of Georgia's 2nd Congressional District gives remarks on legislative matters. 

Furthermore, Bishop said many farmers were denied Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) funding for months, and their contracts with industry groups were placed on hold. This was due to the word “climate” being used in the program. This also had an adverse effect on National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) funding received by land-grant universities such as FVSU and the University of Georgia (UGA). 

Additionally, Bishop said that more than $120 million in funds authorized by Congress designated for Georgia’s producers, rural residents, seniors and school cafeterias were cut.

“I do my dead level best to work in a bipartisan fashion to get a funding bill passed. When it becomes law, we expect that it will be executed and abided by,” Bishop said. 

Moreover, Bishop discussed a bright spot, focusing on a federal and state coordinated response in acquiring funds for Georgia farmers still seeking relief from Hurricane Helene. He thanked Georgia’s Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper for taking the time to ensure the process is completed in a smooth and fair manner. 

“He has done a great job leveraging his relationships within the administration to get our farmers, ranchers and forestry people the help they need to recover and rebuild,” he said. Bishop also thanked Governor Brian Kemp for the development of a forestry task force to address the challenges of timber growers in the state. 

Furthermore, Bishop announced that more than $60 million in scholarships for students attending 1890 Land-grant Universities like FVSU has been approved.

 

Tyler Harper, Georgia's commissioner of agriculture, addresses the FVSU Ham and Egg Breakfast audience.

Harper said forums such as FVSU’s Ham and Egg Breakfast present a great opportunity for policymakers, farmers, business leaders, educators and others to meet and discuss the challenges associated with agriculture.

“These forums help us to have honest, open discussions about what those concerns and issues are,” he said. “They are critically important for the ability of us to gather as leaders to address challenges head-on and allow young men and women who are attending Fort Valley State and other institutions like this to continue to have success and opportunities in the state’s No. 1 industry.”

As Georgia’s agriculture commissioner, Harper said that having two land-grant universities, such as FVSU and UGA, is a big plus due to their having the resources to help farmers overcome agricultural challenges.

“What’s awesome about Georgia and the opportunity I have as commissioner is that a lot of my counterparts across the country don’t have two land-grant universities as we have in our great state,” Harper said.

He said that the mission they play in education, research and Extension is critically important to the future of agriculture in the state. “Having two land-grant universities that are working hand-in-hand in partnership and with our leadership and agricultural industry across the state is what allows our farmers to have information at their fingertips,” Harper said.

Keith Howard, Ph.D., dean of FVSU’s College of Agriculture, Family Sciences and Technology, discussed the important role that the Ham and Egg Breakfast plays in promoting agriculture in Georgia.

“It’s really wonderful. We get to interact with some of the key officials and legislators who are on agricultural committees and with farmers. The fact that it’s here at an 1890 Land-grant University is fantastic,” Howard said.

For more information about FVSU’s Cooperative Extension, visit ag.fvsu.edu or call 478-825-6296.

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