Category: Russ Goodman

ATLANTA (July 16, 2025) —State Senator Russ Goodman (R–Cogdell), Chairman of the Senate Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Committee, and State Representative Robert Dickey (R–Musella), Chairman of the House Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Committee, will host the annual Joint Ag Issues Summit on Thursday, August 21, 2025, in Perry, Georgia.

The summit will bring together lawmakers, industry leaders, and members of Georgia’s farming community to discuss the top issues impacting the state’s number one industry. The event will feature key policy updates and a forward-looking agenda focused on protecting Georgia’s agricultural future.

“This summit is about making sure farmers have a seat at the table as we shape policy at the State Capitol,” said Sen. Russ Goodman. “Chairman Dickey and I are both farmers ourselves. We know what’s at stake, and we’re committed to listening, learning, and leading on the issues that matter most to Georgia agriculture.”

“As farmers, we know firsthand the challenges and opportunities facing Georgia’s agriculture industry,” said Rep. Dickey. “The Ag Issues Summit is a vital chance for us to come together – farmers, lawmakers and industry leaders – to listen, learn and plan for the future of our state’s number one industry. I’m proud to help lead this effort as we work to strengthen and protect Georgia’s agriculture industry for the generations to come.”

The Summit will convene in the Miller Murphy Howard Building at 401 Larry Walker Pkwy, Perry, Georgia 31069. Registration will begin at 9:00 A.M., and the official program will start at 9:30 A.M. Coffee and lunch will be provided. A detailed agenda will be released in the weeks ahead.

Attendees are encouraged to RSVP by Friday, August 8, either online here or by emailing Rachel.Whitted@senate.ga.gov.

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Sen. Russ Goodman serves as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Consumer Affairs. He represents Senate District 8 which includes Atkinson, Clinch, Echols, Lanier, Lowndes and Pierce Counties and a large portion of Ware County. He may be reached at 404.656.7454 or at russ.goodman@senate.ga.gov

Representative Robert Dickey represents the citizens of District 134, which includes Crawford and Upson counties, as well as portions of Lamar and Peach counties. He was first elected to the House of Representatives in 2011 and currently serves as Chairman of the Agriculture & Consumer Affairs Committee. He also serves on the Appropriations Subcommittee on Education, Banks and Banking, Energy, Utilities and Telecommunications, Higher Education, Natural Resources and Environment and Ways and Means committees, as well as the Special Committee on Resource Management.

For all media inquiries, reach out to SenatePressInquiries@senate.ga.gov.

ATLANTA (October 30, 2024) —Sen. Russ Goodman (R–Cogdell), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Consumer Affairs, has formally requested that the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) re-evaluate its coverage area for the Hurricane Indemnity Program to include several Georgia counties heavily impacted by Hurricane Helene. In a letter sent to USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack, Sen. Goodman emphasized the urgent need for support for Georgia’s agricultural community, citing an estimated $6.4 billion in total damage to the state’s agricultural industry, with direct crop losses expected to exceed $3 billion.

Several counties—Bulloch, Burke, Candler, Effingham, Evans, Jenkins, Lincoln, Long, Pierce, Richmond, Screven, Tattnall and Wayne—were excluded from the USDA Risk Management Agency’s initial coverage, potentially leaving local farmers without access to vital resources for recovery. Sen. Goodman’s letter, co-signed by several of his legislative colleagues, calls for a thorough analysis of the hurricane’s impact on these areas, leveraging all available data from reliable sources such as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and IBTrACS.

“Seeing almost every Senator in our state come together on this issue speaks volumes about the gravity of the situation our farming families are facing,” said Sen. Goodman. “These farmers did their part by investing in Hurricane Indemnity policies. Now, they deserve to see the USDA step up to the plate. The impact of Hurricane Helene is apparent, and our farmers are counting on Secretary Vilsack to act, ensuring they are able to financially recover and rebuild from this devastation. As a legislative body, we’re united in backing our farmers and the belief that they deserve the support they were promised.”

Sen. Goodman’s letter also highlighted challenges due to Hurricane Helene’s impact on the National Center for Environmental Information, emphasizing that these data limitations should not hinder the assessment of damages in affected regions.

You can find a copy of the letter to Secretary Vilsack here.

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Sen. Russ Goodman serves as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Consumer Affairs. He represents the 8^th Senate District, which includes Atkinson, Clinch, Echols, Lanier, Lowndes and Pierce Counties and a large portion of Ware County. He may be reached at 404.656.7454 or at russ.goodman@senate.ga.gov

ATLANTA (July 15, 2024) — The Joint Agriculture Chairmen’s Ag Issues Summit has been scheduled for Tuesday, August 27, 2024, at 9:30 A.M. at the Georgia National Fairgrounds & Agricenter in Perry. This annual event is a critical gathering for discussing key issues in the agricultural sector. It will feature insights from various industry leaders and the House and Senate Committees on Agriculture and Consumer Affairs.

Sen. Russ Goodman (R–Cogdell), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Consumer Affairs, emphasized the importance of this event: “Each year, the Ag Issues Summit serves as a pivotal platform for our agricultural community to come together, exchange knowledge, and address the pressing challenges we face. It is an invaluable opportunity to foster collaboration and innovation within our industry. We look forward to seeing you in Perry and engaging in meaningful discussions to further strengthen our agricultural community.”

Leaders in the Ag Industry will generously provide coffee and lunch to attendees at no charge. However, due to limited space and to ensure adequate preparations, an RSVP is required. Please respond no later than Friday, August 16, 2024.

To RSVP, please send the following information for each attendee to Rachel Whitted at Rachel.Whitted@senate.ga.gov:

• Full Name:
• Organization:
• Phone Number:

The Summit will be held in the Miller Murphy Howard Building, 401 Larry Walker Pkwy, Perry, Georgia 31069.

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Sen. Russ Goodman serves as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Consumer Affairs. He represents Senate District 8, which includes Atkinson, Clinch, Echols, Lanier, Lowndes, and Pierce Counties and a large portion of Ware County. He may be reached at 404.656.7454 or at Russ.Goodman@senate.ga.gov