Georgia referendums on corn pecans and rising grower automation spending

Georgia referendums on corn pecans and rising grower automation spending

From the Ag Information Network, I’m Bob Larson with your agribusiness update.

**Georgia Department of Agriculture is holding referendums on whether to continue assessments for corn and pecan soft commodity commissions through May 30.

The funds from this can only be used for research, education and promotion of raw materials.

Ballots for both referendums were sent out at the end of April and must be postmarked by May 30 to be counted.

Corn or pecan farmers who have not received ballots should contact Andy Harrison at andy.harrison@agr.georgia.gov.

www.gfb.org/media-and-publications/news.cms/2023/1475/georgia-department-of-agriculture-holding-referendums-for-corn–pecan-accs

**For the first time in several weeks, the nation’s average gasoline price rose four cents from the week a week ago to $3.51 a gallon.

That’s 14.9 cents down from a month ago and 95.6 cents a gallon down from a year ago.

The average diesel price fell four cents and is now $3.97 a gallon, down $1.59 from a year ago.

There was additional volatility in oil prices amid ongoing talk of the US reaching its debt ceiling.

**Farmers currently spend an average of $500,000 per year on automation in response to the ongoing farm labor shortage.

Western Growers discovered the data in its Specialty Crop Automation Report, which tracks and measures industry progress in harvest automation across the fresh produce industry.

It is also part of the Western Growers Global Harvest Automation Initiative, which aims to accelerate farm automation by 50% in ten years.