Republican Rick Jackson unveiled his plan to support Georgia’s agricultural industry on Tuesday, September 29, 2026, pledging to assist farmers as the sector faces increasing costs for essentials such as diesel and fertilizer. Speaking at Cagle’s Farm in Canton, a tourist destination, the healthcare executive affirmed his commitment to helping farmers if elected governor.
Jackson’s proposed plan includes preserving an existing agricultural tax exemption and suspending the state tax on diesel fuel during periods of price spikes. Additionally, he aims to connect family farms with "cost-effective capital," recruit fertilizer manufacturers to the state, and oppose cheap agricultural imports from countries with weak regulatory requirements. His plan also calls for establishing an emergency water reserve capable of 250 million gallons per day and fostering co-op meat and produce processing centers to reduce costs for producers.
Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms’ campaign promptly responded to Jackson’s announcement, stating that the former Atlanta mayor had already engaged with farmers and introduced her own comprehensive plan. TaNisha Cameron, a spokesperson for the Bottoms campaign, issued a statement criticizing Jackson’s alliance with President Donald Trump. Cameron also highlighted that the rising prices for diesel and fertilizer, which are currently hurting farmers, occurred during Trump’s presidency. Cameron stated that Jackson was "too afraid to stand up to Trump" and fight for Georgia’s agricultural sector.
Bottoms’ plan emphasizes encouraging cooperatives, which would allow farmers to pool resources and share equipment and processing capacities. Similar to Jackson, Bottoms also targets taxes by supporting property tax relief for heirs of agricultural land. Her proposal further includes pushing for increased agricultural education in schools and through free pathways to technical colleges, as well as assisting farmers with the paperwork necessary for federal programs.
While Bottoms’ campaign indicated her opposition to Trump’s tariffs, it simultaneously criticized Trump for announcing temporary relief from certain beef tariffs. State Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper, a Republican, echoed similar concerns last month regarding the Trump administration's policy, warning on social media that it could negatively impact cattle producers. Harper posted that "Increasing our reliance on imported food is not a long-term solution to Americans’ affordability concerns," advocating for supporting domestic farmers and ranchers.
Both candidates show alignment on the concept of fostering agricultural cooperatives to bring down costs for farmers. However, neither Jackson nor Bottoms offered extensive details on how they intend to execute their plans. For instance, when discussing restrictions on agricultural imports from countries with lax regulations, Jackson acknowledged a lack of specific methods but affirmed his commitment to getting it done.
Jackson and Bottoms are scheduled to participate in a town hall debate at 8 p.m. on October 6, hosted by Atlanta News First. This event currently stands as their only confirmed debate before early voting commences on October 13. While Bottoms and nearly all other statewide candidates have confirmed their attendance at the Atlanta Press Club debates at Georgia Public Broadcasting on October 12 and 13, Jackson has not yet confirmed for those events.
