WALB: USDA Awards Grants to Help South Georgia Farmers

By Jim Wallace
Monday, July 12, 2010

ALBANY, GA –The U-S Department of Agriculture awards $800,000 to South Georgia organizations to help socially disadvantaged farmers.

U.S.D.A. Assistant Secretary Krysta Harden and Congressman Sanford Bishop announced the two $400,000 grants.

One goes to the Federation of Southern Cooperatives to give technical training to low income farmers and help them reach new markets for their crops.

The Georgia Water Planning and Policy Center at Albany State will also receive a grant to preserve water rights for the farmers.

Harden said "We are losing farmers. I think people know that. Our farmers are aging. How do we give them the tools, both financial resources, but also technical resources to make sure they have what they need to stay on the land."

Secretary Harden, a Camilla native, said the grants will help farmers in 16 South Georgia counties with economic development and make sure their farms have water for their crops.