Farmers vent concerns at convention

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By Dal Cannady bio | email

JEKYLL ISLAND, GA (WTOC) - Lannie Lee has been coming to Georgia Farm Bureau conventions almost as long as he's been farming. The 89-year-old said getting people outside agriculture to understand farming is often as challenging as farming itself.

"So many people don't understand where crops come from, corn, soybeans, milk and eggs, chickens," explained the convention delegate from Bulloch County. "They think you just go to the food store and get it all."

Farmers hope the politicians in Washington understand more than that. Many at the convention are concerned as Congress debates extending the estate tax after it expires this year.

"Most farmers work a lifetime to develop a small estate and we're concerned about the death tax," noted Kenneth Durrence of Evans County. "If our children want to stay in the farming business, they should be able to hold onto the estate to keep farming."

The 1,500 convention delegates represent nearly 400,000 Farm Bureau families in Georgia. They spend 3 days debating the issues and forming a message they'll send to Washington.

"We want to make sure Georgia agriculture and rural Georgia are represented and its crucial for us to know what our grassroots want us to promote," explained Georgia Farm Bureau president Zippy Duvall.

"They are the voice of agriculture," noted Danny Norman. "They let lawmakers know what needs to be done and unifies the voices of so many commodities across the state."

Delegates took time Monday to recognize Georgia commissioner of agriculture Tommy Irvin for his four decades of service to the state. Irvin has announced he won't seek reelection next year.

Besides the political discussions, farmers had the chance to talk to each other and know they aren't alone in the challenges they face. Many said this one week in the winter pays off all year long.