Agriculture & Rural Development
Farmers, ranchers, and producers are the backbone of America's more than $1 trillion dollar agriculture industry. Georgia's agriculture industry generates $ billion annually. As a leader of the U.S. House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, the Co-Chair of the bipartisan Congressional Chicken Caucus, and Co-Chair of the Congressional Peanut Caucus, Congressman Bishop is one of agriculture's most steadfast supporters in Congress, directing crucial funds to federal programs that build our rural communities, support agriculture, and ensure that America has the safest, most abundant, and affordable food, fiber, and medicine.
Congressman Bishop is also a member of the U.S. House Agriculture Committee, where he helps oversee and craft federal agriculture policy and programs through the Farm Bill. He works diligently to protect farmers and help them recover from natural disasters, fights against overbearing regulatory burdens, strengthen America’s nutrition programs, improve the H2-A program for non-immigrant agricultural workers, advance education and research that makes agriculture more efficient and resilient, promote fair trade and treatment of American agriculture goods in international markets.
More on Agriculture & Rural Development
WASHINGTON, DC – Yesterday, the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, led by Ranking Member Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (GA-02) and Chairman Robert B. Aderholt (AL-04), hosted a Members' Day hearing to receive testimony from other Members of Congress on their agriculture priorities for the 115th Congress. Turnout was robust and included ten Democrats and twelve Republicans.
WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Sanford D. Bishop, Jr (GA-02) applauds Special Master Ralph Lancaster, Jr.'s recommendation, issued yesterday, that the U.S. Supreme Court deny Florida's request for a cap on Georgia's water usage.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Earlier today, Congressman Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (GA-02) was selected to serve as Ranking Member for the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies. In this role, Congressman Bishop will serve as the subcommittee's lead Democrat. The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture has funding jurisdiction over the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Farm Credit Administration, and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission.
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (GA-02) released the following statement regarding last night's storms in Middle and Southwest Georgia:
"My prayers go out to all those impacted by the terrible storms that swept through the Middle and Southwest Georgia region. The damage was significant, and my office stands open and ready to assist those affected.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Thomas J. Vilsack designated an additional three counties within the State of Georgia as primary natural disaster areas due to severe drought conditions. These counties include Terrell County and Taylor County, located in Georgia’s 2nd Congressional District, as well as Warren County, located between Atlanta and Augusta.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – On Tuesday, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the next phase of its 2016 National Resources Inventory-Conservation Effects Assessment Project (NRI-CEAP). The USDA will be surveying 16,000 farmers and ranchers until February 2017 to document conservation and production practices. This survey will help USDA develop voluntary, science-based solutions and incentives for improving conservation at farms and ranches.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Sanford Bishop is pleased to share that USDA has extended the end of the 2016 grazing period for the Livestock Forage Program (LFP) from October 31 to December 1, 2016. The grazing period helps determine eligibility for LFP assistance for those farmers impacted by drought. This decision follows a discussion last Friday between Congressman Bishop and U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack regarding drought conditions in Southwest and Middle Georgia counties.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Secretary of Agriculture Thomas J. Vilsack, in accordance with Section 321(a) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act, sent a letter last week designating three counties within the State of Georgia as contiguous disaster areas due to recent drought conditions in Georgia and Alabama. These designated areas include Chattahoochee, Muscogee, and Stewart counties in Georgia.
Washington, DC- Congressman Sanford D. Bishop Jr. (GA-02), is pleased to announce that the Rural Development agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture has approved $14.3 million in project development grants and loans to five recipients in the 2nd Congressional District of Georgia. These recipients include the Fort Gaines Police Department, the Ellaville Police Department, Pataula Charter Academy, the Development Authority of Macon County, and South Georgia Technical College.