GFB News Magazine

Rollins: Ga. meat processors inspected by GDA can ship nationwide

by Jennifer Whittaker
Editor

Posted on October 13, 2026 4:24 PM

Farmers from Carroll and nearby counties and state ag leaders gathered at North Georgia Turf in Whitesburg July 27 to discuss ag issues with U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins and Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper. Topics discussed included farmland conservation, labor challenges, the tournament system under which poultry producers raise chickens, steps the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is taking to eradicate New World Screwworm, and the USDA reopening the U.S. border to live Mexican cattle beginning Aug. 24.

U.S. Rep. Brian Jack (R – Dist. 3) arranged Rollins’ visit to the family sod farm owned by Aaron McWhorter.

Following a tour of the sod farm, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins, at podium, and Georgia Commissioner of Agriculture Tyler Harper, standing at left, announced the state of Georgia and the United States Department of Agriculture have finalized a Cooperative Interstate Shipment (CIS) agreement.  The visit was arranged by U.S. Rep. Brian Jack, front row, far right. /Photo by Jennifer Whittaker
 

Georgia meat processors inspected by GDA can ship products nationwide 

While at the sod farm, Rollins and Harper announced Georgia and the USDA have finalized a Cooperative Interstate Shipment (CIS) agreement allowing Georgia meat processors inspected by the Georgia Department of Agriculture to ship their products throughout the U.S. under the USDA inspection mark.

Rollins said Georgia has about 23 small meat processors inspected by the GDA. The CIS program was authorized in the 2008 farm bill and launched in 2012. 

“Georgia’s family-owned meat processors now have the ability to access the same domestic marketplace as everyone else,” Rollins said. “Ranchers have had to deal with a consolidated processing industry that has four companies, including two foreign owned that dominate 85% of the market.”

Under the CIS, the GDA has to meet the same inspection standards as USDA inspectors. 

 “We [the Georgia Department of Agriculture] are committed to protecting our food supply chain,” Harper said.  “That's what our team does every day in our food processing and meat processing facilities across the state to ensure humane care of livestock and that our farmers get a fair shake in the marketplace.”

For more information about CIS, visit www.fsis.usda.gov/cis.

Rollins listens to farmers

Georgia Farm Bureau Middle Georgia Vice President Ralph Caldwell, left side of table, center, participated in the private roundtable meeting held July 27 at North Georgia Turf in Carroll County. /Photo by Ben Parker

Georgia Farm Bureau Middle Georgia Vice President Ralph Caldwell and GFB National Affairs Coordinator Ben Parker were among the West Georgia farmers and agribusiness leaders attending the private roundtable meeting. 

“It was a very good meeting. Secretary Rollins got to hear real issues from real farmers with mud on their boots,” Caldwell said. “She took notes and was very receptive to what we had to say.”

Caldwell, a poultry, cattle and hay producer in Heard County, shared the difficulties he has in finding reliable labor to work on his farm. 

Caldwell also discussed concerns some poultry growers have with the tournament system under which they raise poultry for integrator companies, and the frustration Georgia timber owners have with the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) set to go in effect Dec. 31. 

The EUDR will deny America access to European timber markets unless documented tracking confirms reforestation of timber. This regulation does not allow the harvest of timber for conversion into active pastureland or cropland, despite allowances for residential or solar development. 

This summer GFB encouraged timber growers to ask the Trump administration to negotiate changes to the EUDR.

Georgia Cattlemen’s Association President David Huddleston also attended the roundtable and discussed cattle issues with Sec. Rollins including efforts to protect the U.S. cattle herd from New World Screwworm through the dispersal of sterile flies.

Update on trade efforts

During the July 27 press conference, Rollins said the Trump Administration has secured 20 new trade deals as it works to open markets around the world to U.S. ag products.

“We’re expecting to set records for corn and ethanol and tree nuts and dairy just in this year alone. And most of those, that is a very important driver in Georgia. We need to open up the markets here in America, the domestic markets with biofuels and other things, which we’re seeing. We’ve also got to get the cost of inputs down in fuel, in fertilizer, in seeds, in equipment, in interest rates, and even in buying property. We have a plan for each of those that we’re implementing. Fertilizer is a great example. We used to produce almost all of our own fertilizer in America. With dozens and dozens and dozens of companies, now you’ve got basically four main companies. Half of them are not even American-owned that control the American fertilizer market, and so there’s no price competition. We’ve got to change that. We’re investing significant funds in new fertilizer production.”

Rollins said a new ammonia plant will soon be built in Louisiana that will be among the largest ammonia plants in the world.