Bleak Future for Poultry Farmers

Georgia poultry farmers are waiting to see whether they will have any chickens to raise at the end of the year. Chicken producers are reeling from last summer's spike in corn prices - up to $7.50 a bushel. The University of Georgia Center for Agribusiness and Economic Development says record prices for diesel fuel aren't helping and consumers aren't eating out as much. As a result, many producers are cutting back.

(Associated Press)

Ethanol Plant Shuts Down

Georgia's largest ethanol plant is closing for a week following an accident. First United Ethanol on Camilla in south Georgia says a ruptured evaporator joint caused a major steam blow off Tuesday. The plant opened only a few months ago and makes ethanol from corn. The plant says it was likely a faulty valve but a full investigation is underway.

(Atlanta Business Chronicle)

Tropical Storm Fay could hurt Georgia farmers

As Tropical Storm Fay makes its way through South Georgia, farmers there are doing the best they can to save their crops.
Farmers in Southwest Georgia ran combines through the night to get their corn out of the fields. Tropical Storm Fay is bringing heavy winds and rain to the area. High winds can topple corn stalks and heavy rains can cause plants to rot in the fields.
With higher corn prices brought on by ethanol production, Georgia farmers planted over 300-thousand acres this year. A cool spring and a hot, dry summer has already hurt this year's crop. A flood could make the situation much worse.
This years crop could bring in more than 200-million dollars for Georgia's farmers, and much of that crop is grown in South Georgia.

Drought threatens Georgia's cotton crop

South Georgia’s cotton crop could get a double blow this year – from drought and from corn. A surging interest in biofuels has led more farmers to plant corn instead of cotton. But the Thomasville Times Enterprise reports that many area farmers who want to plant cotton are holding off because the ground is too dry. Some say they’ll plant soybeans instead if rains don’t come to South Georgia in the coming month. The National Weather Service’s Climate Prediction Center expects drought to persist in south Georgia through at least the end of June with only the chance of slight improvement.