There’s a country song whose lyrics include Chug-a-lug-a-luggin’ five miles an hour on my International Harvester.

I imagine that there are few people reading this article that don’t understand what this song is referencing.

Since our local farmers impacted our economy with $167 million in gross crop revenues during 2008, it’s easy to understand and appreciate why you may be held up in traffic on a country road in Decatur County. That revenue not only supports the farmers and their families but contributes to the profitability of our agribusinesses, professionals, banks, retailers, service providers and many other organizations, both directly and indirectly.

Simply put, our community could not afford to do without our agricultural industry.

Every year your Chamber of Commerce recognizes the achievements of our farmers and their impact on our community by hosting its Ag Appreciation Luncheon.

The Chamber’s Agriculture committee, with the help of our sponsors, will host the 9th annual luncheon on Friday, Nov. 20, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Cloud Livestock Facility located adjacent to the fairgrounds.

About the speaker

Our guest speaker will be Jeffery Dorfman, professor of agricultural and applied economics at the University of Georgia. He will discuss the impact of stimulus money on agribusinesses and the changes technology has made in agriculture.

Dorfman has been with the University of Georgia since 1989. He teaches classes in economic theory, the economics of the food industry, and macroeconomic policy in the agricultural and natural resource sectors.

He performs research mostly on productivity measurement, economic forecasting and the economics of growth and sprawl. He has authored a book, more than 60 academic journal articles, and a variety of other articles published in trade publications, the popular press and on the web.

Dorfman has testified to the U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee, to the Georgia Senate Special Committee on Feedgrains, and to a USDA Panel on Farmland Preservation. He serves as editor of the American Journal of Agricultural Economics, the top academic outlet for his field. He is a consultant to a variety of businesses, foundations and local governments with past and current clients including Sprint, the American Farmland Trust, Pennington Seed, Fulton County Schools, and numerous city and county governments in the southeastern United States.

He is married, with one daughter, and they attend Central Presbyterian Church where he serves as treasurer.

Ag lunch sponsors

We want to thank our sponsors for the valuable support that makes this luncheon possible: Andrew Avery Insurance; AT&T Georgia; Barber Fertilizer Company; Bridges Equipment; Burke, Worsham & Harrell LLC; Cedars Farm Plantation; Dairy Queen; Dean Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep; Decatur County Farm Bureau; Decatur Fish Farm LLC; Decatur Gin Company Inc.; Elberta Crate & Box Company Inc.; Family Bank; First National Bank of Decatur County; First Port City Bank; Georgia Power Company; Hays-Liquid Transport Inc.; Park Avenue Bank; PeoplesSouth Bank; Regions Bank; Rentz Irrigation; River Bend Ford; Sharber Oil Company; Tim Smith & Associates; Skinners Crop Insurance Services Inc.; Southwest Georgia Farm Credit; Sowega Cotton Gin; Stone’s Home Center; Southwest Georgia Oil Company/Seminole Biodiesel, and Youmans & Gardner, CPAs.

In addition to recognizing our farmers and the 2009 Ag Man and Ag Woman of the Year, we will serve our traditional seafood buffet. Please refer to your invitation for additional details. We look forward to seeing you there.