Georgia Agricultural Forecast

By:  Eddie Ayers, County Extension Agent

The Georgia Ag Forecast seminar series will be held Jan. 22 through Feb. 1 at six sites across the state. University of Georgia agricultural economists will present insights into the latest market and regulatory conditions for the state’s largest industry – agriculture. Hosted by the UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, the 2019 seminar series will be held in Macon, Carrollton, Watkinsville, Lyons, Bainbridge, and Tifton. Registration for the series is now open at www.georgiaagforecast.com.

“The main objective of the Ag Forecast seminar series is to provide Georgia’s producers and agribusiness leaders with information on where we think the industry is headed in the upcoming year,” said Kent Wolfe, director of the UGA Center for Agribusiness and Economic Development. “It helps producers plan for the next year, but it’s also good for bankers and others who have businesses involved in agriculture or who will be impacted by the farm economy.” Economists from the center and from the college’s department of agricultural and applied economics will deliver the economic outlook, which will focus on Georgia’s major commodities and the way that global markets, weather patterns and historical trends will affect them.

This year, CAES Dean Sam Pardue will highlight how UGA is working to meet the needs of producers and agribusinesses across the state. He will share insights on rural initiatives and opportunities for statewide connections to the land grant university.  This program also provides state and local leaders with current demographic data and detailed population projections that enable Georgia leaders to more effectively address issues and plan for the future.

The 2019 Georgia Ag Forecast sessions will be held on the following dates at the following locations:

• Tuesday, Jan. 22: Macon – Georgia Farm Bureau Building
• Wednesday, Jan. 23: Carrollton – Carroll County Ag Center
• Friday, Jan.25: Watkinsville – Oconee County Civic Center
• Tuesday, Jan. 29: Lyons – Toombs County Agri-Center
• Thursday, Jan. 31: Bainbridge – Decatur County Agricultural Center
• Friday, Feb. 1: Tifton – UGA Tifton Campus Conference Center

Individual seats are $35 per person. All seminars begin at 9 a.m. and are followed by a networking lunch, except for the Tifton event which will open with a 7 a.m. breakfast, followed by the seminar.  The Georgia Ag Forecast seminar series is supported by the Georgia Department of Agriculture and Georgia Center of Innovation for Agribusiness. For more information on the 2019 Georgia Ag Forecast series, visit www.georgiaagforecast.com or search for #gaagforecast on social media.

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