State Commodity Commissions
Vital to Georgia Agriculture
Over the years, Georgia Commodity Commissions have proved themselves invaluable in representing producer interests. The Agricultural Commodities Promotion Act of 1961 put into motion a program that is envied by states across the country. This legislation enabled numerous Georgia commodity groups to implement farmer-funded, self-help programs. Commissions for eggs, milk and peanuts were the first to utilize this new concept.
| Commodity | Assessment |
| Apples | 2 cents per bushel (packed fruit) |
| Corn | 1 cent per bushel |
| Cotton | $1.00 per bale |
| Eggs | 5.5 cents per 30 dozen case |
| Milk | 15 cents per cwt |
| Peaches | 10 cents per bushel (packed fruit) |
| Peanuts | $2.00 per ton |
| Pecans | 1/2 cent per lb. in shell |
| Soybeans | 1/2 of 1% of value |
| Tobacco | 30 cents per cwt |
Typically, in the establishment of a Commission, producers of a commodity petition Georgia’s Commissioner of Agriculture, and a hearing is then held to determine the interest.
Active producers then receive a ballot to vote their conviction. An approval rate of 66 2/3 of those voting is required before the Commission can go into effect. The Commission is then valid for a three-year period and is required to be reaffirmed every three years thereafter. Most easily pass by 80 percent or more. Under the Commodities Promotion Act, each Commission is required to prepare an annual budget. Collections are spent in the areas of promotion, education and research for that commodity.
Members of the Commissions (except peanuts) are comprised of five producer members and two ex-officio members. The commissioner of agriculture and the Georgia Farm Bureau president serve in the ex-officio capacity with full voting privileges. There are also two other ex-officio members who are appointed by the House and Senate Agricultural Committees for the purpose of assisting in the appointment process. Producer members usually serve a three-year term or until a successor is appointed or voted onto the Commission Board. They are eligible to succeed themselves.
Commissions for sweet potatoes and canola are no longer in effect due to decreased production and a lack of producer interest. Additional Commissions may come into existence as requested by producers.
Research has always been a cornerstone of the Commissions, and many research projects would not be possible if it were not for producer funding. Research is being conducted on a host of crop diseases including tomato spotted wilt virus, rhizoctonia, pecan scab and anthracnose, just to name a few. Research is also being done on troublesome insects, aflatoxin, water management, and fertility, in addition to engineering projects on efficient planting, cultivation, harvesting and drying methods. These projects just scratch the surface of the work being done by researchers and scientists across Georgia on behalf of farmers.
Once a crop is produced, it must be processed into a desirable product for consumers. Commodity promotion programs developed by the Commissions or organizations under contract with the Commissions have had a huge impact on the sales and marketing of Georgia grown commodities. Producer-funded programs developed the slogans “Got Milk,” “Georgia Pecans, For All Seasons For All Reasons, and “Cotton, the Fabric of Our Lives.” In some cases, Commissions have developed stand-alone promotion programs or joined forces with other states to leverage a national campaign.
Georgia Farm Bureau has always supported producer-driven, farmer-funded, self-help programs. Over the years, our president has been very responsive to producers and provided much support. Georgia Farm Bureau is committed and will continue to have an active role in helping Commodity Commissions be successful.
If you, as a producer, contribute to a Commodity Commission, rest assured that your assessment is being spent in an efficient and judicious manner. The board members serving on the various Commissions are dedicated to their respective Commission. They put in many hours helping to make agriculture better for us all. This often goes overlooked and they deserve our appreciation.
By: Don McGough, Commodites/Marketing Director (July, 2006)
