From the peanut and cotton fields to the chicken houses and cattle herds, there are more than 40,000 farms across thestate of Georgia.
Agriculture accounts for $91.4 billion of the state's economy, and covers more than 9 million acres of land in the Peach State. Farms also provide more than 380,000 jobs, and those hundreds of thousands of workers are a key voting bloc come the November midterms.
Georgia farmers are in a tricky spot this election. Many come from deeply red districts outside the state's major metro areas where Republicans have historically and consistently performed well, but pressures from rising prices amid the Iran war, tariffs and competing imports have put many farms at risk.
President Trump's support in Georgia is waning, and
it may impact Republicans up and down the ballot.
Over the weekend, a Wall Street Journal poll found President Trump's approval rating at 37%, the lowest rating for an incumbent president ahead of the midterms since the newspaper's polling began in 1990. In Georgia, the president has been losing support over the past six months, his support declining to 35% as of the beginning of September.
Polls from the Associated Press, Fox News, the New York Times, Reuters and YouGov have found similar results, with support ranging from 33% to just shy of 40%.
Georgia Peanut Commission Chair endorses Jon Ossoff
Donald Chase, the chair of the Georgia Peanut Commission, a peanut farmer from Oglethorpe and a lifelong Republican, endorsed incumbent Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff in an interview with the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Ossoff is running against the Trump-endorsed U.S. House Republican Mike Collins for the U.S. Senate.
“We don’t necessarily elect a party,” Chase told the outlet. “I like to support people that I can get behind and believe in.”
Chase noted that Ossoff had supported the ongoing funding of UNICEF, a federal aid program that provides peanut-based food to children around the world. Ossoff also worked to provide disaster relief to Georgia farmers following Hurricane Helene, and introduced the Farm Disaster Tax Cut Act to Congress.
Two Republican mayors from South Georgia, Julie Smith of Tifton and Scott James Matheson of Valdosta, also endorsed the Senator for reelection, both coming from largely agricultural communities.
Ossoff's actions while Senator also earned him praise from Georgia Christian broadcaster and "conservative truth-teller" Erick Erickson.
"You talk to farmers in South Georgia, they can get him on the phone. They can get his staff on the phone. They can get help," Erickson said during a recent segment. "You talk to Republicans in Houston County, very Republican part of the state, they know they can reach out to Ossoff, and he doesn't care that they're Republican. If they need something, he's going to get it done."
Beef imports cause friction in Northwest Georgia
In a Truth Social post on Aug. 21, President Donald Trump announced the United States had reached a deal for foreign ground beef to be imported into the country at a 25% discount compared to American prices. The deal was made in exchange for not paying out-of-quota tariffs on ground beef to the U.S.
The National Cattleman's Beef Association, which includes Georgia farmers, said it was "disappointed" by Trump's announcement.
"Cattle markets have already turned sharply lower this morning, to the detriment of farmers and ranchers. This is a critical time of year for cattle producers, as we approach the season where they are making decisions regarding their herds. Cattle farmers and ranchers are responding to strong market signals and historically high demand, and we are already working to rebuild after years of ongoing drought, high input costs and other challenges that have reduced U.S. cattle numbers," the organization said. "Today's announcement and other market interventions throw cold water on the prospect of herd expansion and sacrifices long-term stability for short term messaging.”
One cattle farmer, Ret. Brigadier General Shawn Harris who is running in the Georgia's 14th congressional district for a U.S. House seat, said the imports were "pitting the farmer against the consumer," in a recent interview with USA TODAY.
"This is the first time in years that (as) cattle producers we've actually been making money in the cow-calf operation," Harris told USA TODAY in an interview Tuesday. Harris said years of droughts, fires, screwworm and then tariffs for things like fertilizer, fuel and more have made the industry nearly impossible.
"They have already said the price of my cattle have already dropped $12.50 per 100 pounds. You start adding that across cows that are 2,000 plus pounds or more and then you say 100 head of cattle, you just lost a lot of money," Harris said. "That's what the president has done not to myself, but to all cattlemen across the United States."
Diesel prices still rise, gas tax halted
Farmers are also disproportionately hit by rising gas prices, particularly the price of diesel for trucks and tractors that are used to haul livestock, corn and other supplies around the country.
In Georgia, the average price of diesel is $6.23 as of Sept. 29, according to AAA's gas tracker.
The prices led to Gov. Brian Kemp once again issuing apause to the state gas tax on Monday, a move that was celebrated by candidates on both sides of the aisle.
"This announcement means immediate relief for Georgia families struggling to afford gas and groceries and Georgia farmers facing diesel prices that have more than doubled in recent weeks," said Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper in a statement.
The suspension went into effect Tuesday morning, and is currently scheduled to run until Oct. 29, but it could be extended or renewed by the governor.
President Donald Trump has regularly downplayed the high gas prices and their impact, calling it a "small price to pay" for ensuring Iran does not have a nuclear weapon.
But the rising costs have drawn criticism not only from the Left, but even one of Trump's former allies.
Marjorie Taylor Greene, who previously served in the U.S. House in Georgia's 14th congressional district, has been hounding the Trump Administration on social media, pointing out gas prices across Georgia and in other parts of the country.
"It's almost fall harvest and diesel is record high around $6.50 nationally and over $8.30 in CA," Greene wrote in a post on X on Sept. 25. "Farm equipment runs on diesel."
Irene Wright covers Georgia politics as the Atlanta Connect reporter with USA TODAY’s Deep South Connect team. Find her on X @IreneEWright or email her at ismith@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: How will Georgia's farmers vote? Peanut commissioner chooses blue
