PERRY, GA – This week, Congressman Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (GA-02) joined State of Georgia officials, local farmers and agriculture industry representatives at an Agriculture Issues Summit at the Georgia National Fairgrounds in Perry, GA to discuss legislative issues important to Rural America. Congressman Bishop discussed the Farm Bill.

“A strong Farm Bill provides certainty for America’s farmers, ranchers, and consumers with the safest, most abundant and most affordable food and fiber supply in the world, while addressing hunger across the nation,” said Congressman Bishop. “This is the Farm Bill I work and pray for – and I would appreciate your prayers for all those in Congress to make fair, reasonable, and balanced decisions for the American people as we move forward on a nutrition bill and a Farm Bill conference with the Senate.”

Georgia Rep. Tom McCall and Senator John Wilkinson, who chair their respective Agriculture Committees in the Georgia General Assembly, hosted the annual Agriculture Issues Summit. Speakers provided updates and information on issues important to agriculture, including updates to the Georgia Ag Tax Exemption program, federal immigration reform, Georgia regional and state water planning, the MAP-21 transportation regulations, and an update on the Farm Bill.

Other state officials in attendance were Tom McCall, Georgia House Agriculture Committee Chairman; John Wilkinson, Georgia Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman; Gary Black, Georgia Commissioner of Agriculture; Bo Warren, Director at the Georgia Department of Agriculture; Amy Oneacre, Policy Manager with the Georgia Department of Revenue; Jud Turner, Director at the Georgia Environmental Protection Division; and Lt. James Steen, Georgia State Patrol.