Senator Raphael Warnock visits with Lee Co. pecan farmers

LEESBURG, Ga. – A pair of local farmers met with one of Georgia’s senators Friday morning to show him how rough of a year it’s been for their crops.

Senator Raphael Warnock met with a pair of local farmers in Lee county Friday morning, to get a little more perspective on the hardships they’ve faced even in just the last year alone, in drafting the next farm bill.

For local farmers, Justin Jones and Marianne Brown, their pecan crop suffered in 2023 alone, thanks to weather patterns, including Hurricane Idalia.

Though the issues can be traced as far back as Hurricane Irma in 2017.

“You know, typically we average anywhere from 1,000 to 1,500 pounds per acre. This year, we’re only picking up close to 300-500 pounds per acre. So, we’re off by more than 50 percent from one of our lowest averages in the past,” said Justin Jones, Owner, Jones Planting Co.

“It hurts. You kind of don’t spend all of your money and you hold on to it just in case you have a year like this,” said Marianne Brown, Owner, TNM Farms, LLC.

That’s why Senator Warnock wanted to get a better idea on how Georgia farmers are struggling when drafting the next farm bill.

“It’s one thing to work on these issues in Washington. It’s another thing to be here on the ground, to see the impact of a summer storm, let alone a hurricane can have on a farmer’s prospects for a profitable year. This is a tough business…” said Sen. Raphael Warnock, (D) Georgia.

It’s clear that farmers like Justin and Marianne want one thing to come from this visit…

Better protections in the next farm bill.

And, it seems everyone involved in Friday morning’s meeting wants common sense reforms.

“I hope that some common sense policies can come out. Senator Warnock has been working with other senators across the aisle…” said Jones.

“Specifically, disaster relief for ’23. And then moving forward, RMA is lacking for the yield exclusion with crop insurance. That’s something we didn’t realize we needed,” said Brown.

“…These kinds of common sense reforms in my mind are not partisan. They’re common sense. And, when you spend time with folks like this on the Jones farm and other places, you get a sense of how urgent and important these issues are,” said Sen. Raphael Warnock, (D) Georgia.

While farmers like Justin and Marianne hope that the worst is behind them and their pecans.

Senator Warnock is currently working with North Carolina Republican Senator, Thom Tillis on drafting the next farm bill.

Brian Roche reporting.

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