MOULTRIE, GA (WALB) -
Georgia farmers are celebrating what could be one of the state's best cotton harvest seasons ever. They're also wrapping up what's expected to be a record peanut harvest.
From Sunbelt Ag Expo, cotton growers say their early harvest looks outstanding as well.
Agriculture is Georgia's number one industry, and this fall that industry is having an outstanding harvest in the big row money crops. And that is much-needed good economic news for the state.
Three combines harvest Zack Thaggard's cotton fields, starting on what promises to be an outstanding crop. Some farmers are reporting an average 1400 pounds an acre, and are very pleased with the quality and yield.
State leaders say 2012 could be remembered for a long time in agriculture.
"Our productivity continues to improve," says Georgia Commissioner of Agriculture Gary Black. "We kind of think can it ever get any better. And now we're sitting here on a record peanut crop. Acreage is up and the Lord has blessed us with the right kind of weather this year. And it's a tremendous harvest."
From cattle to chickens to cotton and peanuts, South Georgia agriculture is expanding, with more acres and jobs.
"So we're seeing an awful lot of growth in Southwest Georgia. All the way to the Alabama line and across it. And it's critical to the economy of Southwest Georgia," said U. S. Senator Saxby Chambliss of Moultrie.
Years of research and improvements in technology in agriculture are paying off.
"Farming and agriculture is a high risk manufacturing business," said Sunbelt Ag Expo Executive Director Chip Blaylock. "The input costs are so high with the machinery, the fertilizer, with the crop protection, the seed. Technology has it's cost associated with it. But we are just seeing phenomenal yields this year across the board."
With growing world demand predicted, state leaders say agriculture in Georgia could drive the state's economic turnaround.
"I really believe the future of agriculture in Georgia is very, very bright. We have access to a world market, but then we still here at home have a domestic marketplace that wants to eat more things grown locally," Black said.
After years of recession, the state's leading industry is coming up big.
Ag leaders say in the last ten years Georgia agriculture has made remarkable strides in technology and crop output, and they say they are confident the next ten years will bring even more growth in the industry.
Cotton prices are way down from the record of nearly $2.30 a pound set in March 2011.
The price is holding steady around 75¢ a pound, and farmers say that's a reasonable price.
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Sunbelt Ag Expo Executive Director Chip Blaylock
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