Meet Gary Black, Georgia's Next Commissioner of Agriculture
Georgia's next commissioner of agriculture, Gary Black, agreed to answer a few questions for Georgia Organics' voter guide. Read his thoughts on sustainable agriculture, food safety, farm to school, local food economics, and more below.
You can also get to know Commissioner-elect Black by watching this Sept. 2 recording of the Georgia Organics sustainable agriculture debate held at Emory University.
Plus, the League of Women Voters Georgia has this voter's guide, which also sheds light on Black's background and priorities.
Gary Black
Hometown, Commerce, Ga.
Experience, 1989-2010 President, Georgia Agribusiness Council
Education, UGA, BS '80, Agricultural Education
All responses were printed verbatim.
1) If you are elected commissioner of agriculture, what systemic changes, if any, do you intend to make at the department?
I will begin by instituting a revitalized organizational structure that focuses leadership on three areas: operations (all regulatory and promotional activities), administration (personnel, information technology, budget), and security (law enforcement, homeland security). I will immediately lead a strategic planning process (also noted later in the survey) aimed at improving employee morale, administrative efficiency, and service to the taxpayer. The development team will include current employees, consumer and regulated stakeholders. With broad-based input, we can set benchmarks and thereby chart a measurable path to exceptional service in the future. I will initiate a thorough review of all laws impacting the operation of the department. Upon completion, I will ask the legislature to work with me to modernize and streamline our operations to reflect the new strategic plan. I will publish our budget online so that taxpayers can monitor the monthly financial statements of their Department of Agriculture.
2) What level of priority does sustainable and organic agriculture play in your plans for the department of agriculture and what top three actions would you take in the first year of your administration?
Leaders of the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences define sustainable agriculture as follows: “It means the practice of growing food, fiber, feed and fuel in systems that meet the needs of both the present and future generations. Sustainable agriculture emphasizes production and marketing practices that are profitable, environmentally sound, and that improve the quality of life for both farmers and the public. Sustainable agriculture systems rely on building healthy soils and crops, enhancing biodiversity, and minimizing the use of non-renewable resources.” I could not agree more. This definition includes all types of cultural practices and certainly embraces market driven demand. Likewise, I will give priority to all facets of Georgia agriculture covered under this definition. In my view, a rising tide lifts all ships. My first priority will be to institute a six-month long strategic planning process. We must have a sound plan in order to build for the future. GA Organics will be represented during this process. Secondly, I will introduce an internet-based system for purchasing licenses and filing reports with the department. Lastly, I will use new media tools to develop a better communication strategy with the public.
3) What policy changes and/or infrastructure expansions, if any, would you undertake to better support small and medium size farmers?
I am committed to opening/renaming one section of the Atlanta Farmers Market as “Locally Yours…”. This local flavor market should be for producers from a certain radius of Atlanta. I am open to offering day rental of stalls and will work to provide an aggregation service to match larger customers (restaurants, hotels) with groups of producers who may not be able to service larger accounts on their own. I will launch a website worthy of Georgia, our farmers and employees. Better promotion through this portal as well as Facebook and Twitter will draw our citizens into a closer relationship with the producers that serve them. One video component of the new site will be “Meet Your Farm Neighbor.” Regularly, I will visit with farmers throughout the state to discuss their operations. This simple action will improve agricultural literacy, and particularly for smaller farmers open market opportunities.
4) Where do you see the most opportunity for Georgia’s agricultural growth?
The next generation of Georgians should actually see growth on three fronts. We will continue to absorb a wide range of vegetable production from Florida as their population grows and water resources tighten. The same holds true for dairy. Consumer and institutional demand will continue to drive expansion of fresh fruit, vegetable, red meat and poultry production in and around population centers. Lastly, the introduction of olive production in the coastal plain region of the state and a yet to be determined biomass crop for fuel seem to offer promise.
5) How would you foster stronger links between education and agriculture?
I am the only candidate with any record of direct involvement as a student, volunteer, parent and sponsor of FFA and 4H programs in Georgia. My record is solid. I will use this experience to direct my staff at the Department to be intimately involved serving as mentors in these youth programs to play a role in developing the next generation of agricultural leaders. I will institute the GDA Public Service Internship Program for college students. We must make public service an attractive career consideration. Through my school nutrition initiative “Feed My School for a Week,” I will work with the next State Superintendent of Schools to challenge local communities to work together to achieve some level of school nutrition self-sufficiency for one week out of the school year. This initiative will link science, stewardship, nutrition, agricultural education, economics and career exploration together in a creative partnership that will draw communities together for a worthy goal.
6) What is the single most important thing you would do to better address food safety challenges?
Food safety personnel must have the most relevant technical training available to regulate today’s high tech food industry. Improving the management strategy for those on the frontline of food safety is a must as well. Inspectors can rest assured that they will have the complete backing of the Commissioner’s office during my tenure. Food safety must be a 24/7 mindset for all involved from farm to fork. Food pathogens or rodent infestations do not take weekends off. A strong partnership between industry and the regulators must be developed to insure full time food safety for our consuming public. When infractions are found at a regulated business, they must be swiftly corrected. I will insist on high standards of accountability internally and in the marketplace. Georgia’s food safety regulatory process must shift to a culture focused on prevention. Prevention is the key to avoiding food-borne illness outbreaks. Georgia has a wealth of expertise in the area of food safety and security at our research universities. I will use my experience to cooperate with food safety specialists from the University of Georgia, Georgia Tech and Ft. Valley State to certify that our food safety prevention measures are the strongest possible.
7) How do you plan to enhance the department’s effectiveness during the current state budget crisis?
Moving as many regulatory reporting functions into an internet-based management system will be one of my first administrative priorities. This step alone will help bring near term improvements in efficiency and productivity. I am very interested in evaluating current levels of cross-training across regulatory functions. I believe in some instances inspection duties can be combined thus allowing management to shift realign some resources to higher priority programs. A fresh approach to goal-oriented management will also yield benefits. All of these initiatives and others will eventually be include in a 2014 strategic plan. A steering committee and 20 technical advisory committees will commence work soon in 2011. Through this process stakeholders from every contact point of the Department will engage to review all functions and make recommendations for the future. Improving effectiveness begins with vision-backed leadership and a good plan. I will provide both.
8) As the figurehead of Georgia’s agricultural industry, what efforts would you undertake to support and encourage the next generation of farmers?
Though seen by some as a social issue, the number of new farmers entering the business in the future is really grounded in economics. Indeed there are social implications, but profit potential governs entry as much as any factor, in my view. The opportunities mentioned in my answers to question #2 will lure some. We must be supportive with infrastructure, markets, promotion, etc. This is particularly true for locally grown programs. For basic commodity production, it will be vital to speak out at the national level on trade and regulatory policies that impact Georgia growers. I will, as I have done for over 30 years, champion the cause of agricultural education throughout the state. We must have strong FFA and 4H programs to develop the leadership and technical competency needed for the next generation. I hope to be one of the strongest voices for young farmer initiatives in the upcoming Farm Bill discussions and ensure that resources are targeted for Georgia. Finally, I will institute a Public Service Internship Program for college students at the Department. While not exclusively for young farmers, I believe that we must have more public arena opportunities for agricultural students to broaden their horizons.
9) Why should voters who care about sustainable foods and farm choose you over your opponents?
I am certain that Georgia Organics members visit a well-qualified physician when their child is ill, a certified mechanic when their engine sputters, and I am absolutely positive that no one boards a jet without faith that a career pilot has filed the flight plan. One would never knowingly choose otherwise. The same should be true with Commissioner of Agriculture. In this race, I have the experience, the vision and record. Experience and understanding of agriculture is reason number one. Secondly, beyond my career in agriculture, my home life is rooted in agriculture. We raise beef qualified for natural labeling and sell market-weight animals to local consumers. I am listed in the 2009-2010 Local Food Guide (Black Farms, now Harmony Grove Farms). My walk and talk match. Many of today’s campaign advice manuals could share the title of Art Linkletter’s book, Kid’s Say the Darndest Things -- people have and will say anything to try to gain a vote. I think your members expect more. My word will always be straight in agreement or disagreement. I have the leadership skills necessary to bring the department into the 21st century. I would be honored to earn the votes of Georgia Organics members.