2015 UGA Farm Tour in Northeast Georgia
“Candidly, there’s nothing more important to the University of Georgia than its linkage with the agricultural industry. This tour gives the university a chance to showcase what the university does for the agricultural industry and how important that industry is, not only to the state today but to the future of the state.” – UGA President Jere W. Morehead (JD ’80)
Agriculture has a more than $72 billion impact on Georgia’s economy. From the assistance offered through UGA Cooperative Extension to research advances, farmers and food industry leaders rely on UGA’s expertise.
Last week, UGA President Jere W. Morehead saw the close partnership between the agriculture industry and the university as he toured several north Georgia farms, and food processing and biosecurity facilities with Commissioner of Agriculture Gary Black, Sen. John Wilkinson, chairman of Georgia state Senate’s Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Committee; Rep. Terry England, chairman of Georgia state House’s Appropriations Committee; and J. Scott Angle, dean and director of the UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.
With agritourism, poultry and food manufacturing playing key roles in northeast Georgia’s agricultural economy, the tour covered six points of interest. At each stop, farm and plant managers shared ways in which UGA has contributed to their success and ways the university can help in the future.
This year’s tour included visits to:
- Hillside Orchard Farms – Tiger, Georgia
- Tiger Mountain Vineyard – Tiger, Georgia
- Jaemor Farms – Alto, Georgia
- Georgia Poultry Laboratory Network Headquarters – Gainesville, Georgia
- King’s Hawaiian Bakery – Flowery Branch, Georgia
- Sonstegard Foods – Gainesville, Georgia
