Georgia’s farmers, ranchers, and producers are the backbone of our state’s most important industry: agriculture. According to U.S. Department of Agriculture statistics, Georgia’s gross farm income, or the value of agricultural sector production, was more than $8.8 billion. From peanuts and pecans to peaches and cotton, Southwest Georgia farmers work hard every day to provide the quality products on which we all depend. As your voice in Congress, I am committed to protecting our family farms and ranches and am constantly focused on how best to serve our agriculture industry.

Priorities:

• Finding a commonsense approach to food safety which can provide a measure of success at alleviating hunger and set good goals for the future by updating our food safety laws to prevent contamination and the spread of food-bourn illnesses.
• Through my seat on the House Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee, working to advance agricultural research, the production of American-made energy and to ensure a safe, abundant food supply.
• Extending broadband and wireless services to rural communities which will allow farmers and ranchers to take advantage of technology to help them remain profitable and competitive.
• Providing strong emergency federal disaster assistance to our Southwest Georgia farm communities, particularly in light of recent devastating losses caused by hurricanes, excessive rain during harvest and other natural disasters.
• Reforming the estate tax while providing farmers and small business owners with the stability, certainty, and peace of mind they need as they plan for the future.

Accomplishments:

• Original co-sponsor of H.R.875, the Food Safety Modernization Act, which will fix systemic problems in our food safety system and establish a separate Food Safety Administration which will be solely focused on protecting the public through better regulation of the food supply. (Legislation Pending)
• Voted for and passed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), which provided $7.2 billion – one of the largest single investments of its kind – for extending broadband and wireless services to underserved communities across the country. The Departments of Agriculture and Commerce are currently working to distribute these funds to worthy projects around the county, including in southwest Georgia.
• Voted for and passed the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (Farm Bill), which made historic investments in our food and farm economy by expanding food security programs, protecting our vital natural resources, promoting healthier foods and local food networks, and reforming commodity and biofuel programs to reflect the priorities of the nation.  For more information, please visit my 2008 Farm Bill page.

Agriculture Resource Center:

The federal government offers a wide range of services and support for our nation's agricultural community. Please visit my Agricultural Resource Center for help navigating these government resources.

• House Passes 2010 Agriculture Appropriations Conference Report


• House Passes Agriculture Appropriations Bill With $2.8 Million For Georgia Projects


• House Passes Permanent Estate Tax Relief For Families, Farmers And Small Business


• Bishop Accepts "Work Horse" Award at Peanut Farm Show


• Bishop, GA Delegation Members Express Concern Over Proposed H-2A Changes


• Statement on the FY2011 Agriculture Budget


• Statement on the Justice Department’s announcement of a Settlement in the Pigford Case