♪♪ ♪♪ >>> I CAN THINK OF NO HIGHER COMPLIMENT TO SAY ABOUT AN INDIVIDUAL THAN THEY CARED ABOUT THEIR NEIGHBOR.

THEY CARED ABOUT THEIR FELLOW MAN AND THAT THEY WERE A GOOD, GOOD MAN.

♪♪ >> SPEAKER RALSTON WAS ALL OF THE ABOVE.

>> HOUSE SPEAKER BURNS REMEMBERS HIS PREDECESSOR AS THEY UNVEIL A PORTRAIT OF THE LATE SPEAKER, DAVID RALSTON.

GOOD EVENING.

WELCOME TO "LAWMAKERS" ON THIS DAY 35 OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

I'M DONNA LOWERY IN ATLANTA.

AGRICULTURE CONTINUES TO GROW AND THRIVE.

IT'S EVOLVING WITH THE TIMES WHEN IT COMES TO TECHNOLOGY.

FARM EQUIPMENT IS NOT ONLY LONG GONE, BUT ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE KEEPS GEORGIA'S FARMING INDUSTRY GOING.

IT MAKES SURE THE FOOD YOU EAT IS SAFE.

I SAT DOWN WITH GEORGIA'S COMMISSIONER OFFING A CULTURE TYLER HARPER TO TALK ABOUT THE INDUSTRY.

WE WILL ALSO TALK TO TWO STATE SENATORS ABOUT WHAT'S BEING CALLED GEORGIA'S SILICON VALLEY OF AGRICULTURE, BUT FIRST, CAPITOL CORRESPONDENT SARAH KALAS GIVES US A RUNDOWN OF THE BUSY DAY UNDER THE GOLD DOME.

>> HI, DONNA.

LAWMAKERS HONORED A FORMER ISSUE AND THEY TOOK UP A CONTENTIOUS ISSUE RELATED TO EDUCATION.

>> THE DAY STARTED WITH A PRESS CONFERENCE COMMEMORATING THE ATLANTA SPA SHOOTING HELD BY THE PACIFIC ISLANDER LEGISLATIVE CAUCUS.

>> HYUN GRANT.

>> THE VICTIMS' NAMES WERE READ BY REPRESENTATIVE MICHELLE LAO.

REPRESENTATIVE ROMAN TOLD THE CROWD MORE STILL NEEDS TO BE DONE.

>> THIS MOMENT REMINDS US TIME AND TIME AND TIME AGAINST URGENCY TO ADDRESS NOT JUST VIOLENCE, BUT PARTICULARLY VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AND GUN VIOLENCE.

IT IS INCUMBENT UPON US AS ELECTED OFFICIALS TO ADDRESS THIS EMERGENCY BECAUSE IT IS AN EMERGENCY WHETHER IT'S GUN VIOLENCE OR VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN THERE ARE THINGS WE CAN DO THAT DO NOT INVOLVE SCAPEGOATING IMMIGRANTS AND FURTHER EXACERBATING DANGERS AGAINST THEM.

>> THE HOUSE KICKED OFF WITH A CELEBRATION FOR THE LATE SPEAKER RALSTON'S BIRTHDAY.

>> SPEAKER RALSTON HAD A GENERATIONAL IMPACT ON OUR STATE NOT MERRILY BY HIS YEARS OF SERVICE BUT THE CARE AND LOVE THAT HE HAD FOR THE MEMBERS OF THIS HOUSE THAT HE LOVED SO DEARLY.

MORE IMPORTANTLY, FOR THE PEOPLE OF THIS STATE.

>> HOUSE LEADERS UNVEILED A PORTRAIT OF RALSTON, AND SUNNY PURDUE ALSO PRAISED RALSTON'S LEGACY.

>> MAY SPEAKER RALSTON'S MEMORY CONTINUE TO LIVE ON AS LONG AS THIS PORTRAIT HANGS IN THESE HALLOWED HALLS.

THANK YOU ALL AND GOD BLESS.

>> SB-233 ESTABLISHES A $6,500 SCHOLARSHIP FOR STUNTDS A LENDING LOW-PERFORMING PUBLIC SCHOOLS TO USE TO ATTEND A PRIVATE SCHOOL.

THE BILL OFFERS CHOICES FOR STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES.

>> GEORGIA HAS OFFERED A VARIETY OF STATE EDUCATION PROGRAMS WITH STATE FUNDING FOR AS LONG AS 30 YEARS FOR STUDENTS WITH NO APPARENT DOWNSIDE TO GOVERNMENT-OWNED SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES AND TO THE BENEFIT OF THE STUDENTS GIVEN EDUCATIONAL CHOICE.

>> BUT CRITICS SAY, IT DOES NOT FIX PROBLEMS GEORGIA'S EDUCATION SYSTEM IS FACING.

>> VOUCHERS DON'T WORK.

THEY DON'T WORK FOR POOR PEOPLE.

THEY DON'T WORK FOR UNDERSERVED AND THEY DON'T WORK FOR TITLE 1 SCHOOLS.

THEY ONLY WORK FOR A CERTAIN FEW AND GENERALLY THOSE FEW DON'T NEED THE HELP.

>> THE BILL PASSED THE HOUSE 91-82 THIS TIME.

IT STILL NEEDS TO GO BACK TO THE SENATE BECAUSE OF CHANGES THE HOUSE MADE.

THE SENATE REMEMBERED DAVID RALSTON, AS WELL TODAY.

A SENATE RESOLUTION WAS PASSED THAT URGED THE NAMING OF OF A BUILDING ON THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH GEORGIA'S CAMPUS AFTER THE LATE HOUSE SPEAKER.

>> WE HAVE FOND MEMORIES OF HIM.

WE DON'T ALWAYS AGREE WITH ONE ANOTHER IN THIS CHAMBER REGARDLESS OF WHICH PARTY YOU'RE IN, BUT I THINK WE KNOW THAT SPEAKER RALSTON WAS FIRM AND FAIR AND HE WAS DELIBERATE, AND HE HAD WISDOM.

WITH THAT WISDOM CAME A LOT OF COMMON SENSE WHICH WAS MARINATED WITH EXPERIENCE.

>> BUT REPUBLICAN SENATOR COLTON MORRIS SPOKE OUT AGAINST RALSTON.

>> THIS BODY IS ABOUT TO PE PITCH ALLY RECOGNIZE.

>> BEFORE HE WAS SHUT DOWN BY THE SENATE PRESIDENT.

>> LET'S BE MINDFUL AND BE RESPECTFUL AND KNOW WHATEVER PERSONAL GRIEVANCES YOU MIGHT HAVE, PICK AND CHOOSE WHEN -- PICK A MOMENT IN TIME WHEN YOU WANT TO EXPRESS THOSE FEELINGS BECAUSE TODAY WAS NOT ONE OF THEM.

>> WHEN THEY HEARD WHAT THE SENATOR SAID THEY TOOK THEIR OWN ACTIONS.

>> I WANT TO ASK THE DOOR KEEPER OF THIS HOUSE COREY MULKEY, NO TIME IN THE FUTURE WILL THE SENATOR FROM THE 53rd BE ALLOWED TO COME INTO THAT ROOM OR ANY PROPERTY OF THE GEORGIA HOUSE.

[ APPLAUSE ] >> MR. SPEAKER, I ABSOLUTELY 100% SECOND THAT.

>> SR-678 WAS PASSED 63-1.

SIX OTHER BILLS WERE ALSO BROUGHT TO THE FLOOR.

HB-1339 WOULD SURVIVE THE CERTIFICATE, NEEDED TO BUILD HOSPITAL, MEDICAL FACILITIES AND NURSING HOMES ESPECIALLY IN RURAL AREAS EASIER.

>> IT IS NOT A WHOLESALE ELIMINATION OF THE CERTIFICATE OF NEED REQUIREMENTS.

WE ARE TARGETING CERTAIN AREAS WHERE WE WANT TO MAKE IT EASIER TO PROVIDE MEDICAL SERVICES TO GEORGIANS.

LESS BARRIERS TO NOT HAVE TO JUMP THROUGH THIS RED TAPE AND THE REGULATORY APPROVAL PROCESS TO TRY TO GIVE MEDICAL SERVICES TO OUR CITIZENS.

DON'T LET THE PERFECT BE THE ENEMY OF THE GOOD.

EVERY ONE OF US IN THIS ROOM MIGHT SEE PARTS OF THIS BILL WE WISHED WASN'T THERE OR MAYBE THAT WENT FURTHER OR MAN, IF I COULD JUST TAKE THIS PIECE OUT.

YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GET IT TO PERFECT.

YOU MAY NOT LIKE EVERY SECTION OR EVERY PROVISION, BUT IF YOU WANT TO MAKE PROGRESS ON HEALTHCARE IN GEORGIA, THIS IS THE VEHICLE TO DO IT.

>> BUT DEMOCRATS SAY THAT C.O.N.

WON'T FIX THE PROBLEM TO HELP KEEP FACILITIES FINANCIALLY VIABLE.

>> I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO MOVE FORWARD BECAUSE WITHOUT ITS MEDICAID EXPANSION WE ARE DEPRIVING THESE FAS ILTHATS ARE TRYING TO GET TO THE HEALTH CARE IN GEORGIA DEPRIVING THEM OF CUSTOMERS AND INCOME.

>> THE BILL PASSED WITH BIPARTISAN SUPPORT, 43-11.

>>> LAWMAKERS RETURN TO THE CAPITOL ON MONDAY FOR DAY 36.

THAT'S ALL FOR MY CAPITOL REPORT.

BACK TO YOU, DONNA.

>> THANKS, SARAH, FOR THAT REPORT.

AGRICULTURE IS THE KEY TO GEORGIA'S HEALTHY ECONOMIC ENGINE.

THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SAYS THE INDUSTRY PUMPS $74 BILLION INTO THE STATE'S ECONOMY.

THIS IS THE NUMBER ONE STATE FOR BROILERS, HATCHING EGGS AND PEANUTS AND IT HAS NEARLY A BILLION ACRES AND OPERATING FARMLAND.

AND IT'S 150 YEARS OLD THIS YEAR.

EARLIER THIS WEEK I SPOKE TO THE STATE'S 17th COMMISSIONER, TYLER HARPER ABOUT A RANGE OF ISSUES.

I BEGAN WITH ASKING HIM ABOUT AGRICULTURE NEEDS IN THE BUDGET.

>> FOR OUR NUMBER ONE INDUSTRY TO BE SUCCESSFUL WE HAVE TO HAVE THE RESOURCES TO MAKE SURE THAT THE AGENCY THAT OVERSEES THAT INDUSTRY IS SUCCESSFUL AND AS WELL IN THAT, THE CONSUMERS CAN REST ASSURED THAT THEIR FOOD IS SAFE, THAT THE FOOD SECURITY IS PARAMOUNT AND WE WORK TO DO THAT EVERY SINGLE DAY, BUT OUR FOREIGN FAMILIES HAVE BEEN FACING A LOT IN THE LAST FEW YEARS AND THE ISSUES WE'VE BEEN DEALING WITH, WE'VE SEEN THE RETAIL DOLLAR BACK TO THE FAMILY FARM IN JUST THE LAST TEN YEARS TO CLIMB BY 20% AND IT'S DECLINED BY 50% SINCE 1980 AND SO IT'S BEEN DIFFICULT IN AGRICULTURE IN SOME ASPECTS.

SO WHEN YOU SEE THE RETAIL DOLLAR, SO MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE THE RIGHT POLICIES IN PLACE AND ALSO HAVE THE RESOURCES WE NEED AS AN AGENCY IN HELPING TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR FARM FAMILIES ARE SUCCESSFUL, WE'RE WORKING WITH OUR FRIENDS AND BECAUSE IF WE'RE NOT SUCCESSFUL, WE CAN'T HELP OUR FARM FAMILIES AND OUR AG INDUSTRY AND OUR CONSUMERS ACROSS THE STATE BE SUCCESSFUL, AS WELL.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING THOSE CONVERSATIONS TO ENSURE THAT ALL OF AGRICULTURE CAN CONTINUE TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN THE GREAT STATE OF GEORGIA.

?

LET'S TALK ABOUT THE SPECIFIC PART OF THE FARMING INDUSTRY AND THAT'S HEMP FARMING.

YOU HAD BILLS DEALING WITH HEMP FARMING.

>> TALK ABOUT THOSE.

>> WE DO, THE HEMP INDUSTRY IS ONE OF THE NEWEST INDUSTRIES, IF NOT THE NEWEST, AS YOU KNOW, JUST A BRIEF BACKGROUND IN THE FARM BILL AND THE FEDERAL FARM BILL AND IT LEGALIZED HEMP PRODUCTION IN AMERICA.

AS A STATE SENATOR, I WAS ACTUALLY ON THE FOREFRONT OF THAT WORKING WITH ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES AND FORMER COLLEAGUES REPRESENTATIVE JOHN CORBETT.

HE AND I ARE ACTUALLY THE ONES THAT WORK TOGETHER TO -- TO SET THE GROUNDWORK FOR THE HEMP INDUSTRY IN THE STATE OF GEORGIA.

OBVIOUSLY, WE DIDN'T KNOW EVERYTHING THEN WHENEVER WE WERE WORKING TO GET IT OFF THE GROUND LIKE WE KNOW NOW, BUT -- SO WHAT WE'RE WORKINGING ON ARE COMMON SENSE, BIPARTISAN LEGISLATION THAT WE'VE SEEN IMPLEMENT IN OTHER STATES ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND IT DOES A COUPLE OF THING THIS CAN MAKE HEPA BOARD OR CONCRETE OUT OF IT OR ON THE CONSUMABLE SIDE.

PRODUCTS PEOPLE DPRUZ, WHETHER IT'S AN OLD OR ANOTHER TOPPER PRODUCT.

SO ENSURING THAT IT'S SUCCESSFUL IS KEY, AND I THINK THE IMPORTANT PART IS THE HEMP INDUSTRY IN OUR STATE IS SUPPORTING WHAT WE'RE DOING.

THEY ARE VERY SUPPORTIVE OF THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING SO WE HAVE THEIR SUPPORT AND WE HAVE THE SUPPORT OF OUR SHERIFFS, THE PROS CURE THES AND MANY, MANY LEGISLATORS, OBVIOUSLY, BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN HELPING THEM TO GET ACROSS THE FINISH LINE, BUT IT DOES A FEW SIMPLE THINGS.

IT ADDS CLARITY IN THE LAW AND IT REQUIRES FOR THOSE PRODUCTS BEING SOLD TO HAVE A CERTIFICATE OF ANALYSIS SO YOU KNOW, THE CONSUMER KNOWS WHAT'S IN THAT PRODUCT WHICH I THINK IS VERY IMPORTANT.

IT RESTRICTS SALES ON THE CONSUMABLE PRODUCTS TO ANYONE UNDER 21.

IN THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS WE'VE SEEN HERE IN THE ATLANTA AREA WHERE WE'VE HAD CHILDREN A HOLD OF A PRODUCT THAT, UNFORTUNATELY PUT THEM IN A SITUATION WHERE THEY HAD TO BE SENT TO THE HOSPITAL ASK SO KEEPING THESE PRODUCTS OUT OF KIDS' HANDS, CONSUMER PROTECTION AND THE CONSUMER KNOWS WHAT THEY'RE BUYING.

THOSE ARE VITAL COMPONENTS OF ENSURING THAT WE HAVE A HEMP INDUSTRY THAT CAN BE SUCCESSFUL, AND SO THAT WAY IF YOU SELL A PRODUCT IN OUR STATE THE CONSUMER KNOWS WHAT THEY'RE BUYING.

>> COMMISSIONER, YOU'VE LAUNCHED A WAY TO FORTIFY THE FOOD CHAIN.

TALK TO US ABOUT THAT.

>> YES, WE HAVE A NEW GRANT PROGRAM.

WE'VE PARTNERED WITH USDA OVER NUMEROUS PROGRAMS AND THIS IS ANOTHER PERFECT EXAMPLE OF THAT, OF A FEDERAL STATE PARTNERSHIP.

THE FSI GRANT IS A PROGRAM THAT HELPS ENSURE THAT THAT MID WILL MIDDLE OF THE ROAD SUPPLY CHAIN IS TAKEN CARE OF AND INFRASTRUCTURE.

IT'S ONE THING TO GROW A PRODUCT ON THE FARM AND IT'S ONE THING TO SELL A PRODUCT ON THE RETAIL STORE, BUT YOU HAVE TO TAKE THAT PRODUCT THAT WE SELL ON THE FARM AND BE ABLE TO PACKAGE INTO SOMETHING AND IT CAN BE DELIVERED TO THAT STORE.

IT'S THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD SECTOR THAT THIS GRANT IS FOCUSED ON.

IT'S A LITTLE OVER $7 MILLION THAT WE WILL BE ACTIVITY DISTRIBUTING THROUGHOUT STATE.

AN MRI KIGZS ARE ON RIGHT NOW, FSI.COM IF YOU ARE THAT INDIVIDUAL THAT IS IN THAT MIDDLE OF THE ROOT READ AND FRESH SUPPLY SECTOR AND THEIR IS AN AWESOME OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO PUT MORE GEORGIA GROWN GOODS ON KITCHEN TABLES ALL ACROSS THE STATE.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND WHAT'S HAPPENING IN FARMING, THINGS THAT PEOPLE WOULD BE SURPRISED ABOUT.

>> SO WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT AGRICULTURE, I THINK YOU HAVE TO GO BACK A LITTLE BIT TO 1954 WAS THE FIRST YEAR WHEN THERE WERE TRACTORS IN AMERICA THAN THERE WERE MULES.

70 YEARS AGO WAS THE FIRST TIME THAT WE HAD MORE MECHANICAL EQUIPMENT THAN WE DID LIVESTOCK OR MULES OPERATING FIELDS.

SO IT HADN'T BEEN THAT LONG AGO AND PRIOR TO THAT THERE WAS A LOT OF ADVENT AND INVENTION THAT MOVED AGRICULTURE FORWARD, BUT WE'VE SEEN SIGNIFICANT ADVANCEMENT IN THE LAST 20, 30 YEARS THAT WE'VE SEEN IN AGRICULTURE IN CENTURIES AND SO ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND PRECISION AGRICULTURE IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF MOVING THE BALL IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TRACTORS NOW THAT DRIVE THEMSELVES WITHOUT ANYBODY IN THEM.

>> WE HAVE TECHNOLOGY THAT CUT THEMSELVES ON AND OFF AND IRRIGATION EQUIPMENT THAT ONLY WATER WHERE WATER IS NEEDED AND DOES SO AUTOMATICALLY AND ALL OF THIS IS INTEGRATING THAT ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE TO KNOW WHERE IN THE FIELDS, WHERE IN THE SUPPLY CHAIN, WHERE IN THE PRODUCTION OF A CERTAIN COMMODITY, WHERE DO WE EXCEED TO MAKE THOSE MINOR ADJUSTMENTS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE GETTING THE MOST OUT OF THAT PARTICULAR COMMODITY THAT WE'RE GROWING WHETHER IT BE BEEF, PORK, LAMB, CHICKEN OR COMMODITIES LIKE PEANUTS, COTTON, CORN OR TOBACCO OR WHATEVER IT IS.

IT'S REALLY AMAZING AND I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THE FUTURE OF AGRICULTURE FROM A PRECISION PERSPECTIVE BECAUSE I THINK MOST AMERICANS WHEN THEY THINK OF AGRICULTURE THEY THINK OF COWS, PLOWS AND SOWS, BUT AGRICULTURE IS WAY MORE THAN THAT AND THROUGH INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY AND WE CAN SHOW THAT IT IS WAY MORE THAN THAT, THAT IT IS A HIGH-TECH INDUSTRY AND WE'VE GOT TO HAVE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE WILLING TO GO IN THIS INDUSTRY THAT HAVE THAT UNDERSTANDING OF IT AND THAT KNOWLEDGE.

TRACTORS TODAY HAVE THOUSANDS OF LINE OF COMPUTER CODE.

>> ANYTHING ELSE THAT YOU WANTED TO ADD?

>> A COUPLE OF THINGS JUST REALLY QUICK.

AT THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE WE JUST CELEBRATED OUR 150th ANNIVERSARY AND WE ARE THE FIRST STATE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND GEORGIA WAS IN THE FOREFRONT OF AGRICULTURE CREATED IN 1974.

IN FEBRUARY 28th OF THIS YEAR WAS EXACTLY 150 YEARS OF THE WANT IT'S EXISTENCE AND AFTER SERVING GEORGIA, POUNDERS AND CONSUMERS ALL OVER THE STATE.

WE'VE EXCITEDED WHAT WE'VE DONE AS AN AGENCY, BUT WOOE LOOKING FORWARD TO THE NEXT 150 YEARS AND WHAT AGRICULTURAL OPPORTUNITIES WILL BRING TO THE STATE.

>> I WANT TO THANK COMMISSION HARPER FOR THAT CONVERSATION.

YOU CAN FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE GRANT HE MENTIONED ABOUT THE FOOD ASSISTANCE INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAM ON THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE WEBSITE.

THERE'S MUCH MORE TO THAT INTERVIEW INCLUDING HIS DEPARTMENT'S INVESTIGATION AND INTO AN ILLEGAL FOOD MANUFACTURER, THAT TURNED UP SOMETHING DIFFERENT FROM WHAT THEY EXPECTED.

WE'LL PUT THAT INTERVIEW ON GPB.ORG, AND COMING UP, WE WILL CONTINUE TALKING ABOUT AGRICULTURE.

TWO STATE SENATORS WILL TELL US HOW GEORGIA IS EMBRACING AI INCLUDING A NEW HIGH-TECH FARM IN PERRY.

STAY WITH US.

>>> "LAWMAKERS" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY GEORGIA FARM BUREAU.

WITH MORE THAN 80 YEARS OF HELPING EVERYONE UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF AGRICULTURE IN OUR STATE.

AFTER ALL, AG IS GEORGIA'S NUMBER ONE INDUSTRY.

FOOD AND FIBER PRODUCTION REPRESENTS $74 BILLION IN GEORGIA'S STRONG ECONOMY AND THE GEORGIA FARM BUREAU LEGISLATIVE TEAM WORKS TO REPRESENT PRODUCERS ACROSS GEORGIA AT THE STATE CAPITAL, DURING THE SESSION AND YEAR ROUND.

GEORGIA FARM BUREAU.

THE VOICE OF GEORGIA FARMERS.

>>> WELCOME BACK TO "LAWMAKERS."

I'M DONNA LOWERY.

SELF-DRIVING TRACTORS AND DRONES, ROOMBA-LIKE VACUUMS THAT PICK UP EGGS IS ALL PART OF TECHNOLOGY AND AGRICULTURE AND THERE'S SO MUCH MORE WITH ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND WE WILL CONTINUE OUR DISCUSSION WITH REPUBLICAN SENATOR LARRY WALKER III OF PERRY.

HE'S THE MAJORITY CAUCUS SECRETARY AND REPUBLICAN SENATOR SAM WATSON OF MOMENTRY AND HE'S A FORMER MEMBER OF THE AGRICULTURE AND CONSUMER AFFAIRS COMMITTEE AND ALSO A FARMER.

>> BOTH YOU, WELCOME TO "LAWMAKERS."

LET'S GET STARTED WITH THIS THING THAT WILL BE TAKEN DOWN IN PERRY AND IT'S BEING CALLED THE SILICON VALLEY OFFING A CULTURE AND IT'S PLANNED IN THAT CENTRAL GEORGIA AREA, AND I HEAR YOU CAME UP WITH THE IDEA FOR THIS.

>> WELL, LET ME TELL YOU THE STORY HOW THIS WAS BORN.

>> I WAS IN THE AG EXPO IN SENATOR WATSON'S HOME STATE, AND I WAS VISITING SOME OF THE RESEARCH PLOTS THEY HAVE THERE, AND I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS A NEED FOR A LARGE-SCALE DEMONSTRATION FARM TO TEST OUT AND DEMONSTRATE SOME OF THE NEWEST AND LATEST TECHNOLOGY, AND I THOUGHT I KNOW WHERE WE CAN FIND THAT AND IT'S ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE GEORGIA NATIONAL FAIRGROUNDS IN PERRY.

IT'S JUST EAST OF THE FAIRGROUNDS, 250-AKRE TRACK THAT WE, IN FACT, VOTED THIS WEEK TO CONVEY THAT PROPERTY TO THE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM OF GEORGIA SO THAT WORK CAN BEGIN ON THE GRAND FARM.

I LIKE TO CALL IT THE SMART FARM, BUT IT WILL, TRULY BE THE SILICON VALLEY OF AG TECHNOLOGY.

>> WE'VE HEARD OF SMART HOUSES AND NOW WE HAVE SMART FARM.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT YOU'LL HAVE THERE?

>> COMMISSIONER HARPER IN YOUR EARLIER SEGMENT MENTIONED, AUTONOMOUS TRACTORS WOULD BE ONE AND FOR EXAMPLE, SPRAYERS WITH OPTICS AND ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE BUILT IN TO WHERE THEY CAN IDENTIFY AND THEY CAN IDENTIFY A WEED VERSUS A PLANT AND THEY CAN SPRAY HERBICIDE ON THE WEED AND SPRAYING 70% OF THE HERBICIDE USAGE AND YOU CAN DO THE SAME THING WITH THE PESTICIDE SPRAYER AND THE VARIABLE APPLICATION OF FERTILIZER THAT'S PUT ON THE FIELD AND VARIABLE IRRIGATION AND MOISTURE SENSORS IN THE SOIL AND THE PLANTS AND DRONES TO DO WHAT I USED TO DO AS A YOUNG PERSON SCOUTING THE CROP TO IDENTIFY AND PASS THE FIELD, DRONES MIGHT BE ABLE TO DO THAT IN THE FUTURE AND ROBOTS TO PICK CROP, ET CETERA.

>> I CAN'T FIGURE OUT WHICH ONES ARE WEEDS AND I'M NOT INTO AGRICULTURE.

LET'S TALK WITH YOU, ARE YOU USING AI?

>> WE USE AI WHEN IT COMES TO OUR EQUIPMENT AND SYSTEMS.

IF WE DON'T CONTINUE TO DEVELOP MORE PRECISION AND AI AND THE FARM RIGHT NOW IS REALLY SUFFERING BECAUSE OF OUR INCREASED INPUT COST AND OUR INCREASED LABOR COST AND WE HAVE NO CONTROL OVER AND INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY WILL BE ONE OF THE WAYS THAT WE'LL HAVE TO OVERCOME THAT TO KEEP OUR FARMS AND BUSINESS AND TO KEEP AGRICULTURE THE NUMBER ONE THING IN THE STATE.

WHAT KIND OF THINGS DO YOU FARM?

VEGETABLES ARE, CUCUMBERS, EGGPLANT ALL VERY LABOR INTENSIVE CROPS THAT ARE HARVESTED BY HANDS AND SO WE USE A LOT OF LABOR AND OUR LABOR RATES HAVE GONE UP 21% IN THE LAST 14 MONTHS AND AT THE FARM LEVEL WE DON'T HAVE ANYONE TO PASS THAT ON TO.

SO WE'RE REALLY STRUGGLING AND IT'S JUST NOT A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD AND ONE OF THE BRIGHT THINGS IS INNOVATION AND THAT'S WHERE WE THINK WE CAN LEVEL THE PLAYING FIELD SO TO SPEAK BECAUSE IF WE DON'T WE'LL HAVE A LOT OF FARMS THAT WILL CONTINUE TO SHUT DOWN AND GO OUT OF BUSINESS.

>> SO YOU MUST BE EXCITED ABOUT WHAT WILL HAPPEN IN YOUR AREA WITH THE GRANT FARM.

>> AS THE CHAIRMAN MENTIONED, WE HAVE AN EXPO IN MULTRY THAT HAS BEEN DOING IT AND ANYBODY AND EVERYBODY WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED AND WE CAN'T DO ENOUGH IN THAT AREA RIGHT NOW BECAUSE AS I MENTIONED THAT'S HOW WE'LL HAVE TO BRIDGE OUR GAP TO KEEP THE FARMERS IN BUSINESS.

>> AND IT'S WHAT THE HENS DON'T LEAVE IN THE RIGHT PLACE AND TELL US SOMETHING LIKE A VACUUM OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT?

>> A ROOMBA.

>> YOU MENTIONED THAT WE'RE THE NUMBER ONE FOR LAYERED HANDS OR LAYERED CHICKENS IN THE WORLD AND SO THAT'S A HUGE INDUSTRY IN GEORGIA.

GEORGIA TECH -- SO EVERYBODY WANTS CAGE-FREE EGGS NOW SO WHEN YOU HAVE CAGE FREE CHICKEN THEY'RE, AND NOT ON THE FLOOR OF THEIC WHICHEN HOUSE.

ONCE ONE CHICKEN STARTS LAYING AN EGG ON THE FLOOR OF THE CHICKEN HOUSE, AND ALL OF THE CHICKENS WILL FOLLOW THE BAD HABIT IF YOU DON'T GET THE EGG PICKED UP AND IT GET IT IS CONTAMINATED BY THE LITTER AND IT'S NOT SELLABLE.

THIS LITTLE ROOMBA-LOOKING THING CAN GO, IT CAN SEE THE EGG AND GO PICK IT UP AND IF THERE'S A CHICKEN IN ITS WAY IT WILL GENTLY NUDGE THE CHICKEN OUT OF THE WAY AND THEN PICK UP THE EGG SO THE OTHER CHICKENS DON'T FOLLOW SUIT AND START MASS CHAOS AND LAYING EGGS ALL OVER THE FLOOR OF THE CHICKEN HOUSE.

>> YOU JUST DON'T THINK ABOUT THOSE KINDS OF THINGS.

YEAH.

THAT'S FASCINATING, AND I THINK THAT'S GRIT.

ANYTHING THAT YOU THINK IS INTERESTING THAT PEOPLE DON'T KNOW THAT'S HAPPENING IN FARMING WITH AI?

>> WELL, WE USE STICKER MACHINES AND IT'S ANOTHER THING WITH GEORGIA TECH IN TRYING TO DEVELOP BETTER TECHNOLOGY THERE BECAUSE ALL OF OUR PRODUCE HAS TO BE STICKERED NOW.

WE STUCKER THE BELL PEPPERS AND THE CUCUMBERS AND THAT WAY WHEN YOU GO TO THE GROSHGRY STORE YOU KNOW WHERE IT CAME FROM AND THEY CAN TRACE IT BACK TO THE FARM AND THAT'S NEW TECHNOLOGY THAT WE'RE TRYING TO IMPROVE AND OUR TRACTORS HAVE BEEN AROUND FOR A LONG TIME AND WE COULDN'T DO IT WITHOUT THEM TODAY AND THAT MAKE US A LOT MORE EFFICIENT.

EVEN FROM THE GROWING STANDPOINT AND THE ECONOMIC STANDPOINT, WE MEET WITH UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA ON OUR PLANT BREEDERS AND HOW WE WERE TALKING THE OTHER DAY ABOUT HOW DOEY WOO GROW A CUCUMBER THAT DOESN'T HAVE A YELLOW BELLY ON IT AND HOW DO WE BREED A PEPPER PLANT THAT HAS TO BE STATE, AND THEY'RE HAVING SAFE LABOR TO MARKET THE PRODUCE BECAUSE THE YELLOW BELLY CUCUMBER IS NOT MARKETABLE, AND EVERYONE WANTS THE SOLID GREEN ONE AND THE CONSUMER GETS A PRETTIER CUCUMBER AND THAT'S WHERE WE'RE HEADED AND THAT'S WHAT MAKES IT EXCITING.

>> I HEARD YOU LEVELED THE PLAYING FIELD RIGHT NOW.

WE ARE AT AN EXTREME DISADVANTAGE RIGHT NOW WHICH IS MEXICO AND SOUTH KILLER AMERICA.

HE'S IN THE UNITED STATES AND THEY'RE PEAING $1:28 ABHOUR AND YOU'LL BEING THEM $14.68 AND I PAY FOR THEIR TRIGZ TO AND FROM MEXICO AND I PROVIDE THEM WITH WORKMAN'S COMPOSITE STATION AND 40 HOURS OF WEEK WORTH OF WORK WHILE THEY'RE HERE AND WE'RE PICKING THE SAME CROPS AND PRODUCING THE SAME CROPS THAT THEY ARE AND THEN THE REGULATORY ENVIRONMENT AND THE FOOD SAFETY ENVIRONMENT WHERE OUR FARM IS AUDITED BY THIRD PARTY AUDITORS AND OUR AUDITORS ARE AUDITED BY THE GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND WE HAVE THE FOOD SECTIONS IN PLACE AND THE WITH THAT WHICH WE REALLY DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY HAVE SOUTH OF THE BORDER AND THAT'S SCARY WHEN YOU LOOK AT A FOOD SECURITY STANDPOINT.

IF WE DON'T GET BETTER TECHNOLOGY AND BETTER INON RAISING TO HELP LOWER THOSE CROSS, AND I'M SELLING IT FOR THE TIME SAME THING TWO AND $3, AND THAT'S JUST NOT SUSTAINABLE.

>> WOW, OKAY.

IT'S INTERESTING TO HEAR WHAT'S HAPPENING AND I DO HAVE TO ASK ANOTHER ONE I HEARD WITH AI AND A WAY TO OPTIMIZE THE ROASTING FLAVOR OF PEANUTS THROUGH GENETICS SO IT WILL TASTE BETTER?

>> THE NUMBER ONE PEANUT PRODUCER, GEORGIA IS, AND WE WANT TO STAY THAT WAY, AND WE WANT TO HAVE A PEANUT THAT SUITS THE CONSUMERS' TASTE ONE THINGS -- TWO THINGS ON THE GRAN FARM THAT ARE THE MOST EFFICIENT TOMORROWERS TOOLS TO BEANY MORE EFFICIENT CAN TECHNOLOGY CAN DO, I'M AFRAID THE FAMILY FARM WILL NOT SURVIVE.

ALSO, THIS IS LOCATED IN AN AREA THAT'S HIGH PROFILE BY THE GEORGIA NATIONAL FAIRGROUNDS AND IT WILL BE A PLACE FOR OUR YOUNG PEOPLE, OUR 4H AND FFA KIDS TO SEE WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS AND GET THEM INSPIRED TO GET INTO AGRICULTURE BECAUSE WE NEED A NEW GENERATION OF FARMERS TO COME ALONG AND THIS WILL BE A PLACE, I THINK, TO BUILD EXCITEMENT WITH THEM.

>> OKAY.

WE'RE RUNNING OUT OF TIME, BUT I APPRECIATE YOU COMING ON.

I LEARNED A LOT.

I REALLY DID UPON.

THAT DOES IT FOR "LAWMAKERS" TODAY.

WE'LL RETURN MONDAY TO TALK ABOUT EDUCATION ISSUES AND MORE.

HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

♪♪ ♪♪