Georgia Roundup

Senators applaud I-85 blaze responses

WASHINGTON — As Georgia officials continue to cope with the aftermath of the blaze last week that has shut down a heavily traveled portion of Interstate Highway for an undetermined number of months, Georgia’s U.S. senators applauded local, state and federal reactions to the disaster.

“We appreciate the swift action taken by Gov. (Nathan) Deal and our state officials, local first responders and community volunteers during this very difficult disruption,” Sen. Johnny Isakson, R-Marietta, said. “In addition, President Trump and his administration stepped in immediately to offer assistance to Georgia and help make sure initial recovery efforts were able to get underway as quickly as possible. As federal partners, Sen. Perdue and I continue to stand ready to help expedite efforts to ensure a quick and successful long term recovery.”

“Georgians stepped up to the plate and immediately responded to the devastating bridge collapse we witnessed last week,” Sen. David Perdue, R-Sea Island, said. “From Gov. Deal to our brave first responders and local leaders, there is no doubt our state’s swift action saved lives in this situation. President Trump and his team also took action to make federal support available to Georgia immediately. We are all hands on deck to expedite any regulatory requirements and we stand shoulder to shoulder to make sure we get Georgians traveling safely again as fast as humanly possible.”

Bishop hosting town hall on hydrilla

DONALSONVILLE — U.S. Rep. Sanford Bishop, D-Albany, has scheduled an April 13 town hall meeting on the hydrilla situation at Lake Seminole.

The public meeting is set for 6 p.m. at the Seminole County Courthouse, located at 200 S. Knox Ave. in Donalsonville.

Bishop will be joined at the meeting by Col. James DeLapp, commander of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Mobile District, who will provide the community with an update on the Army Corps’ plan to address hydrilla growth this season and in the future.

According to the U.S. Geologic Survey, hydrilla, an invasive aquatic plant that is not native to the United States, was first spotted in Georgia in 1967 on Lake Seminole. Since then, it has spread to other state waterways. In South Georgia, it can be found at Lake Worth, Reed Bingham and Lake Walter F. George. The plant’s stems can grow to 30 feet in length.

Serious water resource problems caused by the plant include its adverse impact on small boat navigation, water quality, fish and wildlife habitat, water-borne recreation, and hydropower production, the Army Corps says.

Georgia farmer testifies on farm bill

WASHINGTON — Tim McMillan, farmer from Enigma, Ga., testified Tuesday in support of maintaining the peanut provisions of the 2014 Farm Bill and the Price Loss Coverage (PLC) program in the next farm bill.

“If the PLC program had not been in place, I am afraid many farms in the Southeast would no longer exist because of the downturn in the farm economy, which has plagued us the past three years.” McMillan testified on behalf of the Southern Peanut Farmers Federation before the U.S. House Committee on Agriculture Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities and Risk Management.

The Southern Peanut Farmers Federation’s member organizations produce approximately 80 percent of the U.S. peanut crop. The Federation members include Alabama Peanut Producers Association, Florida Peanut Producers Association, Georgia Peanut Commission and Mississippi Peanut Growers Association.

McMillan said the federation supports maintaining the current PLC program in the 2014 Farm Bill, including the current reference price for peanuts, a separate peanut payment limit and storage and handling provisions. The U.S. Department of Agriculture projected 2017 net farm income in the U.S. to be $62.3 billion which translates to a 49.6 percent decline in net farm income since 2013.