Agriculture
Agriculture is Georgia’s number one industry, and is a crucial source of economic prosperity as well as a cornerstone of the culture of many communities throughout our state. We have the utmost respect for the family farmers who are the backbone of their communities. The field of agriculture has not always benefited Georgians equally: the racist legacies of slavery and sharecropping, and modern-day issues, such as food deserts, worker abuse, and unequal access to capital, have left vulnerable populations behind. Celebrating agricultural heritage means fighting to ensure agriculture works for everyone in Georgia.
Industry and Agritourism
Many of Georgia’s agricultural products are renowned throughout the country and the world for their outstanding quality and taste. Many of our local agritourism destinations are the backbones of their local economies as well as foundational to the culture of their communities. The DPG will work to protect these partners who continue to expand our state’s agricultural heritage into the future.
- Promote Georgia’s signature crops to local, domestic, and international audiences.
- Work with local development authorities to promote agritourism in our communities.
- Support local alcohol producers (beer, wine, and spirits) by reforming laws that benefit distributors at the expense of small-scale producers.
Small Farmers
Georgia’s growers are some of the best in the world, but they struggle with selling into monopolistic food systems with high debt loads and unfair restrictions. Strong local food systems require strong family farms. The small farmer lives closest to their communities and will be the best stewards of the land and environment. The DPG is committed to protecting small farmers throughout the state.
- Expand access to sources of financing for small farmers.
- Reform Georgia’s laws on cooperatives to help farmers band together to receive fair prices for their products and to provide financial support and purchasing power.
- Work to protect growers from monopolies and abusive contracts.
- Ensure that growers have the right to repair their equipment and use and save their seed stock.
- Encourage small processors to facilitate growers supplying local food systems.
New Farmers
Agriculture is the future of our state, and the Democratic Party of Georgia is ready to make major investments in that future. The age of the average farmer in Georgia is almost 60 years old. We need more young farmers graduating from our land grant universities, as well as more young folks starting new family farms. New businesses in the form of new farms will help grow rural communities from the inside out.
- Create career pipelines for new farmers.
- Expand funding for agriculture programs at public universities.
- Ensure all school districts have access to agricultural education.
Diversity in Agriculture
Georgia has always been an agricultural powerhouse, but historically, not all of its people have had access to the benefits of this legacy – particularly Black Georgians. The ill effects of slavery, sharecropping, redlining, and a host of other injustices still linger in our communities. The DPG will work to ensure that, when the bounty of Georgia’s agricultural industry is served, everyone will have a seat at the table.
- Create paths for communities historically left behind by agriculture to build generational wealth through farming.
- Fully fund 1892 land grant universities.
- Protect heirs’ rights by supporting services to retain inheritance.
- Expand access to capital and loans for traditionally marginalized communities.
Agricultural Workers
Georgia Democrats recognize that our agricultural workers, like all workers, deserve respect and protection regardless of industry or documentation status.
- Create a secure channel for all workers through which labor violations can be safely reported without threat of retaliation, including for workers with visas or who are undocumented.
- Ensure safe working conditions, including requiring access to potable water, sufficient breaks, shaded rest areas, and housing.
- End wage theft, quota payments, and worker misclassification.
Feeding Local Communities
The DPG affirms that the primary function of Georgia’s agriculture industry should be feeding Georgia’s people. We support creating strong local food systems wherein local farms feed into local markets. We believe everyone should have access to fresh, affordable foods no matter their income or ZIP code.
- Promote policies that incentivize grocers and pop-up markets to operate within food deserts.
- Expand existing local food pipelines to connect more farmers with local markets.
- Increase locally sourced food within school cafeterias.
- Fund community gardens in public schools.
Sustainability and New Technologies
Our farmers can be our best partners in sustainability, helping us protect and preserve our natural resources, while also growing our local economies. The DPG is committed to promoting sustainable and regenerative agricultural practices that center on the health of our soil, waters, air, and people.
- Expand educational programs and financing opportunities that will incentivize farmers to transition their practices to more environmentally sustainable methods.
- Make strategic investments in nontraditional and innovative growing methods.
- Work with our land grant institutions to promote curriculum and research aimed at sustainability.
- That intensive, concentrated animal processing should not be exempted from environmental regulation.
- Advocating and implementing solutions to combat food deserts to provide adequate nutrition to all Georgians regardless of their ZIP code.
Cannabis
A robust and prosperous legal cannabis industry can be a huge boost to Georgia farmers, processors, and consumers. The DPG is committed to making the most of this burgeoning new industry by advancing policies that will prioritize safety, availability, equity, production, and innovation in the cannabis industry.
- Require mandatory testing and safety protocol for Georgia’s legal cannabis industry that will ensure quality and transparency.
- Establish an equitable licensing and permitting system for cannabis growers and processors.
- Create pathways for those formerly incarcerated for nonviolent marijuana (cannabis) crimes to get jobs within the legalized industry.
Animal Welfare
The DPG is dedicated to improving animal welfare, especially companion animal welfare.
- Support statewide “trap, neuter, and release”(TNR) and vaccination programs and ensure well-supported no-kill animal shelters exist in every county.
- Reform oversight of shelters and breeders.
- Standardize penalties for crimes involving animal abuse.
- Support programs that encourage veterinary clinics in underserved areas, scholarship programs, and mental health programs for all in the veterinary field.
- Support policies that promote ethical treatment of animals in agriculture, advocating for regulations that ensure proper living conditions, humane treatment, and responsible management practices for farm animals.