Rusty Bowers, owner of Pine Street Market in Avondale Estates, received a $10,000 prize check from the Georgia Peanut Commission today for his entry in the Georgia Peanut Product Innovation Award contest. Georgia Commissioner of Agriculture Tyler J. Harper and Georgia Peanut Commission Chairman Donald Chase presented the award at the Sunbelt Ag Expo in Moultrie, Georgia, for his “Georgia Peanut Potlikker Sausage,” which features local chicken, peanuts and collard greens. The sausage won the innovation prize for demonstrating both creativity and exceptional flavor. Learn more at bit.ly/4ebIwwL #peanutinnovation #newproduct #newproductlaunch #pinestreetmarket #gapeanuts

Reminder | The deadline to apply for the Georgia Veterinary Education Loan Repayment Program is November 2nd! GVELRP provides financial relief, by way of student loan repayment, for veterinarians willing to provide veterinary services for food animals OR shelter medicine in shortage areas around the state. Learn more & apply now: agr.georgia.gov/vet-educatio…

Don't miss the opportunity to meet Natalie Keng, a Georgia Grown member and award-winning author + chef, at the Jekyll Island Shrimp & Grits Festival tomorrow & Saturday! Natalie's bestselling cookbook, "Egg Rolls & Sweet Tea," features a delicious Seven-Spice Lemon Garlic Shrimp recipe that highlights Georgia's Golden Isles. As a native Georgian, Natalie draws inspiration from the warmth of Southern food and culture. Her stories and recipes have been featured in national publications, representing our state in a meaningful way. Come visit with Natalie and experience the "Best Festival in the Southeast!"

This morning, @AgCommHarperGA was joined by Allen Poole, Director of @gohsgeorgia; Taylor Arnold, Executive Director of the @gapeanuts; and Billy Hancock, @CrispCoSheriff, to spotlight an important message: share the road and help keep our farmers safe! The Yield Behind the Wheel campaign reminds drivers to use extra caution around farm equipment, especially during harvest season. A little patience behind the wheel can make a big difference. Slow down, give farm equipment plenty of space, and help everyone get home safely!

October is Georgia Farm to School & Early Care and Education Month! So, what does Georgia taste like? From peaches and blueberries to sweet potatoes, greens, and watermelon, Georgia grows an incredible variety of foods. This week, challenge your students to identify and taste a Georgia-grown food. Need ideas, recipes, or educational activities?👉 bit.ly/ftslessons #GATastetheState #GAFarmtoSchool #GAFarmToECE #GeorgiaGrown #farmtoschool #FuelingGA #HarvestoftheMonth

From helping businesses navigate licensing requirements to supporting compliance across Georgia’s agricultural industries, the Georgia Department of Agriculture’s Licensing Division plays an important role in keeping Georgia growing!

🎥 Georgia Hornet Files, Episode 2: An insider view of the Plant Protection YLH Nest Closet. As the Plant Protection Team continues Yellow-Legged Hornet removals throughout Georgia, they’ve collected a wide assortment of nests to educate viewers. Explore the variety of nest shapes and sizes and be watchful for any similar-looking structures in your area. YLH secondary nests, like the ones shown here, are often found in trees. If you spot a suspected Yellow-Legged Hornet nest, report it immediately using this form: bit.ly/YLHReport Your report can help our team respond quickly, protecting Georgia’s agriculture and pollinators.

Kayem Foods Inc. has announced a recall of approximately 1.58 million pounds of ready-to-eat meat and poultry products due to potential temperature abuse during storage. Consumers should not eat affected products and should return them to the place of purchase or throw them away. No illnesses have been confirmed. View affected product labels: bit.ly/484XQYl

🐮🌱 That’s a wrap on the 2026 #GeorgiaGrown Baby Barn at the Georgia National Fair! From adorable newborn calfs to hands-on learning experiences, this year’s Baby Barn brought agriculture to life for visitors of all ages. Every interaction was an opportunity to learn more about the important role agriculture plays in our everyday lives. Thank you to everyone who stopped by and made the 2026 Baby Barn so special!

I’m proud to recognize Mercer University School of Medicine as Georgia’s official @GeorgiaGrown Medical University. Mercer’s commitment to training Georgia students and preparing physicians to serve rural communities strengthens the health of our farmers, families, and the communities that support Georgia’s No. 1 industry. Read more: ⬇️ bit.ly/4eF3wvK

Join us for the 7th Annual Georgia Food Industry Summit, bringing together food safety professionals from industry, government, and academia for regulatory updates, expert insights, cutting-edge research, and networking. Day 1 features updates from the Georgia Department of Agriculture, @USDA, and @US_FDA, emerging food safety threats, and the Georgia Grown Networking Reception, hosted by @GeorgiaTech to celebrate their partnership with Georgia Grown. Day 2 is the Georgia Association for Food Protection (GAFP) Fall Meeting, featuring presentations from university researchers and industry leaders, along with opportunities to connect and collaborate across the food safety community. Attend either day or join us for both! Register: eventbrite.com/e/19964676855…

Today, @AgCommHarperGA signed a proclamation recognizing @mercersom as the official #GeorgiaGrown Medical School! This recognition celebrates Mercer’s commitment to educating future physicians, serving rural communities, and building a stronger, healthier Georgia. We’re excited about the possibilities this partnership brings to supporting the health and well-being of Georgia’s farmers and the communities they call home!

This weekend is your last chance to visit the Powerful Peanuts Experience at the Georgia National Fair in Perry, Ga. 🥜 Learn more about how they grow, history of peanut butter, fun facts, nutrition info, recipes and more at the exhibit inside the Georgia Grown Building. Stop by the Georgia Grown Market while inside the building to purchase the 5.5 ounce packages of Georgia Peanuts and Butter Toffee peanuts to enjoy while you stroll around the fair. 🥜 Brought to you by Georgia's Rural Center, Georgia Department of Agriculture, Georgia Grown and Georgia Peanuts. #RuralGA #GNF #eatmorepeanuts #GaPeanuts

🐮 Thank You to Our Baby Barn partners! We would like to extend a heartfelt THANK YOU to our amazing partners who helped make this year’s Baby Barn at the Georgia National Fair a success! We are grateful to Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, @OgeecheeTech, @FVSU, @ugavetmed, and @berrycollege for sharing their time, talents, and passion for agriculture.

There’s a lot of hard work that goes into bringing the Georgia Grown Baby Barn to life at the Georgia National Fair each year! From the planning and preparation to the early mornings and long days during the fair, Georgia Department of Agriculture employees work tirelessly behind the scenes to create a fun, educational, and memorable experience for fairgoers of all ages. We’re grateful for a team who put their time, energy, and heart into making the Georgia Grown Baby Barn a special part of the Georgia National Fair year after year.

Yesterday, we were honored to welcome @SecRollins to the Georgia National Fair! Secretary Rollins joined @AgCommHarperGA for the Centennial Farms Awards Ceremony, where farm owners were presented with Georgia Centennial Farm Certificates of Honor, signed by @GovKemp, recognizing their lasting contributions to Georgia’s #1 industry. During her visit, Secretary Rollins also stopped by the Georgia Grown Dairy Classroom, where she got a hands-on experience milking a cow! 🐄🥛 We’re proud to celebrate Georgia agriculture, honor the families who keep our farming traditions alive, and share the importance of agriculture with visitors from across the state!

Today, we celebrate the hardworking farmers who help feed our families, fuel our economy, and keep Georgia growing! From our famous Georgia peaches and peanuts to cotton, pecans, poultry, and so much more, agriculture is at the heart of our state. Happy National Farmers Day!

#WorldMentalHealthDay Farming can be tough. The long hours, unpredictable weather, financial pressures, equipment problems, and the weight of keeping everything going can take a toll. Sometimes the strongest thing you can do is admit you’re having a hard time and reach out. You don’t have to carry it all alone. If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988. Help is available 24/7.

With the risk for tornadoes overnight Friday and throughout the day on Saturday, it's important to have multiple ways to receive storm alerts including Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEAS). To check if WEAs are turned on, check the notification settings on your phone.