September 28, 2018
by Jere W. Morehead, President
This week, I was pleased to join College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Dean and Director Sam Pardue, Commissioner of Agriculture Gary Black, State Representatives Terry England and Tom McCall, and other members of the Georgia General Assembly for the sixth annual Farm Tour. I look forward to this event every year as an opportunity to further enhance the University of Georgia’s strong relationship with our state’s number one industry.
This year’s tour focused on South Georgia with stops at the Pure Flavor Greenhouse Complex in Fort Valley, spanning 75 acres and producing tomatoes and cucumbers year-round; Pecan Ridge Plantation in Bainbridge, part of a 1,400-acre pecan operation owned by UGA alumni Eric and Rob Cohen; the C.M. Stripling Irrigation Research Park in Camilla, where UGA researchers are helping to improve irrigation of Georgia crops such as cotton and peanuts; and Premium Peanut in Douglas, the largest single shelling facility in the world.
The tour was reflective of the incredible diversity of Georgia agriculture—and the corresponding diversity of research efforts and expertise found among UGA faculty and staff who support our state’s farmers and agribusinesses. As a land-grant institution, the University of Georgia’s connections to agriculture run deep. I appreciate the opportunity each year to showcase these connections and learn more about the ways in which UGA is helping this industry to grow and thrive.