May 18, 2011
www.gfb.org
Vol. 29 No. 20
DEAL SIGNS BILLS RELATED TO AGRICULTURE Gov. Nathan Deal has signed into law bills addressing sustainable agriculture, deer hunting, feral hogs and the Georgia National Fairgrounds & Agricenter, as well as HB 87, an immigration bill. On May 13, Deal signed HB 87, which gives police authority to check immigration status in certain situations and places immigration status verification requirements on employers. Farm Bureau opposed a provision in HB 87 making employers’ use of E-Verify mandatory. HB 125, signed into law on May 11, places the Georgia National Fairgrounds & Agricenter (GNFA) in a position to receive its state allocation from the Georgia Department of Agriculture, rather than the Department of Natural Resources (DNR). The GNFA has been attached to the DNR since its opening in June 1990. According to published reports, GNFA was also allocated $1.1 million for the renovation of its older barns. The bill adds the commissioner of agriculture as an ex officio member of the board of the Georgia Agricultural Exposition Authority, which operates the GNFA. HB 225, which Deal signed on May 6, establishes definitions of “sustainable agriculture” and “sustainable agricultural practices,” which Deal said would promote responsible agriculture and best practices. It also establishes promotion of sustainable agriculture as state policy. “Growing Georgia’s economy through sustainable agriculture is critical to ensure that we have a viable future for Georgia’s No. 1 industry,” Deal said, emphasizing that one in seven Georgians work in agriculture or related fields and that agriculture is a $65 billion industry in the state. HB 277, also signed into law on May 6, allows hunters of deer or feral hogs to bait privately owned land in the South Georgia region. The governor noted that provisions in HB 277 would enhance Georgia’s status as the nation’s top destination for hunting while controlling deer populations. According to a press release from the governor’s office, deer hunting is responsible for an estimated 10,000 jobs statewide. HB 277 also expands the options for farmers combating feral hogs. “People come from all over the world to hunt our prized deer population, and the sport is an economic engine for many rural parts of Georgia,” Deal said. “HB 277 also helps address a growing problem in Georgia as it expands hunters options for going after feral hogs. The cost of crop damage from feral hogs is tremendous, and this legislation helps Georgia farmers protect their livelihood.” Also on May 11, Deal sign HB 485, which makes it illegal to release feral hogs into the wild and enacts penalties for those who do.