Ag News
UGA Ag Forecast: '26 to be challenging; Gelber named Farmer of the Year
Posted on Jan 29, 2026 at 11:17 AM
The UGA College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences (CAES) held its 2026 Ag Forecast in Tifton Jan. 23. The annual event included economic analysis and projections from UGA CAES economists, a panel discussion of issues facing Georgia farmers and an announcement that Macon County dairy producer Pete Gelber is the 2026 Georgia Farmer of the Year. Gelber will represent Georgia in the Sunbelt Ag Expo Southeastern Farmer of the Year contest.
From left, UGA CAES Dean & Director Dr. Nick Place moderated a panel discussion made up of Colquitt County vegetable producer Kent Hamilton, Georgia Sen. Russ Goodman and Georgia FSA Director Duncan Johnson. The panelists discussed ag topics such as labor issues, crop production costs and USDA farm programs. Hamilton was the 2025 Sunbelt Ag Expo Southeastern Farmer of the Year. Goodman chairs the Georgia Senate Agriculture & Consumer Affairs Committee and grows blueberries and timber. / Photo by Jennifer Whittaker
Economic outlook for Georgia crops
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Amanda Smith, above, a senior public service associate with the UGA CAES, provided analysis of the 2025 crop year for the U.S. and Georgia and shared insights about the coming year. / Photo by Jennifer Whittaker
The 2026 outlook for cotton remains challenging, Smith said, due to Brazil’s rising production, China buying less U.S. cotton and global stocks exceeding demand. Growers will need to carefully manage expenses with cotton futures in the mid-60s.
U.S. and Georgia peanut growers are expected to plant high acreage this year as they did in 2025. Georgia forward contracts are expected to range from $400-$425/ton at most.
Georgia farmers are expected to plant more acres of corn in 2026, while soybean and wheat acres are expected to be similar to 2025. Projected prices for corn, soybeans and wheat are near or below the break-even cost of production so tight margins are expected to continue this year for these crops.
Blueberries are expected to again lead the Georgia fruit and tree nut sector in 2026. Overall, consumer and grower price indexes should remain strong this year.
Total acres of harvested vegetables are expected to decrease in 2026, but the value of production will continue to grow because of yield increases due to good production practices. The consumer price index for vegetables is expected to remain strong this year.
Consumers are expected to eat more fresh vegetables this year, up from last year.
Overall economic outlook
Dr. Ford Ramsey, above, UGA CAES associate professor, said the overall 2026 U.S. economic forecast calls for the second consecutive year of slow economic growth as trade wars and restrictive immigration policies impact the economy. / Photo by Jennifer Whittaker
The U.S. economy is expected to grow by about 2% this year. Inflation rates will likely fall toward the Federal Reserve’s target inflation rate of 2%.
Changes to farm bill programs in the 2025 One Big Beautiful Bill Act, disaster assistance and economic assistance payments will be important in keeping farmers afloat, Ramsey said, as many commodities will continue to experience cost-price squeeze again in 2026. Livestock prices will also help.
Interest and H-2A labor rates, fuel and electricity farm expenses are expected to decrease as fertilizer costs increase in 2026.
Visit https://gfb.ag/25caesagimpactreport to read the latest Georgia Ag Impact Report published by the UGA CAES.
Macon County dairy producer named Georgia Farmer of the Year
UGA Assistant Dean for Extension Lawton Stewart announced Pete Gelber, a Macon County dairy producer, was selected by UGA Extension as the Georgia Farmer of the Year. Gelber will represent Georgia in the Sunbelt Ag Expo Southeastern Farmer of the Year contest. Gelber, his wife, Dr. Elisabeth Reid, his son, Richard, and business partner, Andre Coen, co-own and operate Barrington dairy, which has more than 15,000 cows.
From left, UGA Assistant Dean for Extension Lawton Stewart presents Pete Gelber with the 2026 Georgia Farmer of the Year. / Photo by Jennifer Whittaker
The Holsteins at Barrington Dairy are milked three times a day in three parlors: a 120-stall rotary parlor, a double-42 parallel parlor and a double-35 parallel parlor. Richard manages crops, irrigation and engineering on the farm. Reid and Coen are veterinarians and manage the cows. Gelber and his partners employ around 200 people.
Stewart said Gelber was selected for the sustainability practices he has implemented on his dairy, for how well Gelber and his partners take care of their herd and for the emphasis Gelber places on taking care of the dairy’s employees.
UGA Extension coordinates the selection of the Georgia farmer annually. County Extension agents are encouraged to nominate outstanding farmers. Macon County Extension Coordinator and Agriculture & Natural Resource Agent Madison Warbington Luke nominated Gelber.
"Mr. Pete is a pioneer in his field. He's built a state-of-the-art facility where he focuses on sustainability while maximizing yields and reducing inputs," Luke said in her nomination. "Mr. Pete is a people person; he takes care of the people that work for him and takes care of his community. He's a leader in the dairy industry and a leader in his community."
Gelber, a native of the Bronx, New York City, was introduced to dairy farming as a kid when his parents took their children to their cabin each summer near a small dairy farm in upstate New York. Gelber worked at the dairy and later obtained a degree in animal science and agribusiness. After college he worked for Ron St. John at his dairy in western New York. When St. John moved to Florida to dairy, Gelber became the herdsman at that farm.
“Ron St. John turned into my mentor, my best friend, my partner, then my banker. He gave me a lot of opportunity, and I took it with both hands,” Gelber said. “We bought these bankrupt dairies called Masstock Dairy in Macon County back around 2000. For a number of years, we tried to run it from Florida and failed miserably. In 2007 I moved up here to run it and bought my partners out in 2013. Besides being proud of having happy cows with super milk production and super milk quality, I’m happy to have happy employees. We have them participate in our profitability. We have 200 employees, but we’re still a family farm. We just have 200 families.”
Gelber said he wants to use the platform of being Georgia Farmer of the Year to promote Georgia’s dairy sector.
“Milk has gotten cool again. Everybody talks about the protein in milk and what a wonderful food it is,” Gelber said. “Dairy is growing in our state, and we need more processing, not just regular milk sold in gallon jugs but milk like Fairlife and Lactaid.”
UGA CAES Dean Dr. Nick Place said Georgia is the only state in the Southeast that’s increasing its milk production. In the last 15 years, Georgia has increased its milk production 20% he said.
“There’s an opportunity to grow processing. We as a college are actively working with producers and others to try to make that happen,” Place said.
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