August 19, 2026
www.gfb.org
Vol. 8 No. 16
GDA WORKING TO DISPERSE HH BLOCK GRANT FUNDS BY END OF FALL Georgia Farm Bureau (GFB) held its 2026 Commodity Conference at the UGA Tifton Campus Conference Center Aug. 13. Speakers gave members of the organization’s 20 commodity advisory committees updates on a variety of agricultural issues. GFB kicked off its annual policy development process during afternoon meetings as the committees reviewed the organization’s state and federal policy pertaining to their specific commodities. “This is Georgia Farm Bureau’s 47th Annual Commodity Conference. We’ve been holding this meeting for well over half of Georgia Farm Bureau’s 89 years,” GFB President Tom McCall said. “The purpose of Georgia Farm Bureau since 1937 has been to represent farmers in the legislative arena. The discussions you have in your commodity meetings this afternoon start Farm Bureau’s policy development process, which determines how we represent you in Atlanta and D.C. You can propose new policy concerning your commodities, suggest alterations to existing policy or propose we delete current policy. The policy you propose is usually picked up by the state policy development committee without change.” While speaking during the general session of the conference, Georgia Commissioner of Agriculture Tyler Harper gave a status update on the USDA Hurricane Helene Block Grants, saying staff from the Georgia Department of Agriculture (GDA) and Georgia Forestry Commission (GFC) have been working diligently to review the almost 5,900 applications that were received by the May 11 deadline. The USDA awarded Georgia $531.236 million to be dispersed to farmers, ranchers and timber producers who did not receive compensation for losses due to Hurricane Helene through pre-existing USDA programs. Visit https://gfb.ag/hhblockgrants to read more about the program. After initial reviews of all the applications, Harper said a little more than 4,200 applications were deemed eligible for full review. About 1,700 applications were disqualified because they were incomplete (more than 1,300), found to be fraudulent, or were duplicate applications. Harper said a little over 3,200 of the total applications were for timber losses; about 1,400 applications were for agriculture related losses; and about 630 of the total applications reported both ag and timber losses.
GFB Field Notes page 2 of 19 “Based on what our review team has been working through at this time, applicants have requested a little over $900 million in potential payout. We’ve only received a little over $531 million,” Harper said. “The way we’re working to do this is basically through proration. Once all of the reviews are completed and the final total of the approved eligible requests are known, every payment will be adjusted by the same factor, so every eligible applicant receives the same proportional share of what they were approved for based on the available funding. The final requested total will continue to shift as reviews are done, which is part of why final payments can’t be determined until the review process is completed. I want to note that we [GDA] asked the USDA for over $1 billion in block grants. Unfortunately, there was only enough funds to cover us for a little over $531 million.” “Final payments can’t be determined until all of the applications have been reviewed,” Harper said. “We anticipate distributing payments by the end of this fall.” The team reviewing the block grant applications consists of about 35 members, Harper said, who are either GDA or GFC employees or contractors. All team members have agriculture, forestry and disaster assistance review backgrounds. “We remain committed to a process that's thorough, fair, and accountable, and one that gets help to producers who earned it, while at the same time protecting the integrity of this historic recovery effort. It is a difficult task, but one that our team is committed to,” Harper said. “We’re keeping our administrative cost as low as possible, and at the same time, the Georgia Department of Agriculture is absorbing significant costs to cover the administration of this program. Could we do this faster? Yes, but that means less money going back to people that deserve the funds. Since we started this process, our goal has been to cover as many producers and commodities as possible while ensuring no funding goes back to Washington D.C.” Harper said that GDA and GFC law enforcement staff are looking into any legal or criminal action that may be taken against individuals who filed fraudulent applications. “We have had to devote real resources of our staff’s time identifying fraudulent applications. They look real, they look complete, they look right, but when we dig into it, we find out that it is fraudulent, or it is completely inaccurate and done in a way to defraud the system. It’s a shame that anyone would take advantage of a program built to help producers recover from one of the worst storms in our state’s history. But every suspected case so far is being investigated. We are taking this very seriously.” According to the GDA website, block grant applicants will be notified if they meet all eligibility requirements and asked to sign an agreement with an award amount. Payment amounts will not be finalized until all applications reach final review. The schedule for distributing payments to eligible producers will be announced at a later date. Visit www.gfb.ag/hhblockgrantsreview for the latest information. Georgia Farmland Conservation Fund Update The Georgia Farmland Conservation Fund (GFCF), created by the Georgia General Assembly in 2023 to protect farmland from development, has extended its first offers to Georgia landowners totaling almost $5 million, Harper said.
GFB Field Notes page 3 of 19 “We received 25 applications from Georgia landowners that totaled about $13.5 million dollars in requests. We have about $1.9 million from the General Assembly that we can disperse, and this money is matched with federal money, so in essence, our $1.9 turns into almost $5 million,” Harper said. “We’re really proud of the work we’re doing to protect ag land across our state. I appreciate Farm Bureau’s work on this with us together.” GFB advocated for the farmland conservation fund. GFB President Tom McCall is vice chairman of the GFCF Advisory Council, and GFB 2nd District Director Russ Moon serves on the council. Landowners who received GFCF offers are now considering if they will accept them. A final announcement of recipients is expected later this year once offers have been accepted and finalized. Visit https://gfb.ag/gaconservationfund to read more about the GFCF. SENATE FARM BILL STUCK IN AG COMMITTEE On Aug. 6, the Senate Agriculture Committee failed to advance the Agricultural Act of 2026, referred to as Farm Bill 2.0, in a 10-11 vote along party lines. Committee Chairman John Boozman (R-Arkansas) plans to revisit the bill in September, according to published reports. “We are deeply disappointed that senators failed to advance a farm bill today,” said American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) President Zippy Duvall. “At a time when farmers, ranchers and rural communities across the country are facing multiyear losses, the need for a strong, bipartisan farm bill, one that included the long-awaited year-round E15, has never been greater. We appreciate the efforts of Chairman Boozman and members who supported the bill and urge them not to give up.” Boozman also expressed frustration that the bill didn’t get to the Senate floor. “I’m deeply disappointed by this outcome. We have a responsibility to stand with America’s farmers, ranchers and rural communities. Everyone recognizes the serious challenges they continue to face, and blocking the farm bill only adds to the uncertainty and hardship,” Boozman said. Notably, Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky) was absent and Sen. Tommy Tuberville (RAlabama) missed the final vote. McConnell has been dealing with health issues. Tuberville was present for part of the markup meeting but left before the final vote. Georgia Democrat Raphael Warnock voted against the bill, saying the bill did not go far enough to mitigate cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) enacted in 2025. AFBF, joined by more than 250 agricultural organizations across the country wrote to committee leadership urging them to advance the bill. Georgia Farm Bureau was among the organizations to sign onto the letter. “The Agricultural Act of 2026 … provides a strong foundation of policy and program updates for the Senate Agriculture Committee to consider and further amend in committee markup,” the letter state. “This is the furthest we have gotten to a full, modernized farm bill. U.S. food and agriculture, as well as American families who rely upon the food, fiber, and fuel produced from our country’s farmers, ranchers, growers, and producers, deserve a farm bill now. We urge you to
GFB Field Notes page 4 of 19 advance the Agricultural Act of 2026 in a bipartisan manner out of the Senate Agriculture Committee.” To read the full letter, click here. [www.fb.org/files/8.6.26-FINAL-Senate-Ag-Farm-Bill-Coalition-Letter.pdf] GFC DIRECTOR SABO SHARES GOOD NEWS FOR FORESTRY Although Georgia’s forestry sector has had a tough year with multiple timber mills closing, a record number of wildfires statewide, and international trade issues, while speaking at the Georgia Farm Bureau Commodity Conference in Tifton on Aug. 13, Georgia Forestry Commission (GFC) Director and State Forester Johnny Sabo pointed out some of the positives the industry has going for it. Sabo said GFC is working with the Georgia Department of Agriculture’s Georgia Grown program and the Georgia Forestry Foundation to roll out a marketing campaign for Georgia Grown Wood. “Georgia Grown Wood is a marketing campaign that’s in partnership with the Georgia Department of Ag and the Georgia Forestry Foundation. The Forestry Foundation is really taking a lot of the lead on it. We envision that you will soon be able to walk into Lowe’s or Home Depot and look for the Georgia Grown Wood logo to buy products grown in our state,” Sabo said. “The Georgia Grown Wood logo will help you buy Southern yellow wood versus spruce or something else coming out from Canada.” Sabo said thanks to funding the Georgia General Assembly approved, a new GFC county office being built in Morgan County to serve Greene and Morgan counties will be a mass timber building. The state budget included $2.6 million for design and construction of the building. “It will be the first mass timber building built by the state, not by a private entity, that Georgia has ever had,” Sabo said. We received our civil engineering [specs] back. We’ve already got the architectural plans done. It will be built with all Georgia Grown Wood, so that’s something we’re really excited about.” The Georgia Forestry Innovation Initiative (GFII) is also working with Georgia Tech to develop new products that use small diameter wood, Sabo said. The GFII, created this year with an $8.9 million investment allocated by the Georgia General Assembly, is being overseen by the GFC in partnership with Georgia Tech, to develop and manufacture high-value products from pulpwood class trees and sawmill residues. “We’re not talking about aviation fuel or biochar - things that have been around for years. We’re talking about pharmaceutical coatings and other things that have previously been petroleum based,” Sabo said. “Georgia Tech chemists and scientists say they can make that [pharmaceutical coatings] out of lignin, and so this is the state de-risking it for industry, for at least an industry partner, and scaling it up and working with what Georgia Tech calls the EIS American Market Analysis Group and trying to trying to find uses for small diameter wood, which we know we’re all struggling with in the industry.” Sabo also discussed the two major wildfires Southeast Georgia experienced from April into June.
GFB Field Notes page 5 of 19 He said the Pineland Road Fire that started April 18, burned a total of 32,031 acres before being contained on June 10. The fire destroyed 35 minor structures (hunting camps) and had 272 personnel fighting it at its peak. The total cost of fighting this fire was just shy of $15 million, Sabo said. The Highway 82 Fire, which began April 20, burned 22,410 acres before being contained on June 10. This fire destroyed 110 homes and 16 minor structures and damaged 27 homes and 20 minor structures. On the positive side, firefighters were able to save more than 350 homes, Sabo said. At the fire’s peak there were 632 personnel fighting it from 35 states representing 100 fire departments and 7 hand crews. The cost of fighting this fire was just under $20 million, Sabo said. “I cannot thank our partners enough from all over the nation, especially from Florida that came to help us,” Sabo said. “They came to help us, and we want to go help them. We’ve deployed about 140 personnel. To put that in perspective, a little over 300 personnel have gone from all the 13 Southeastern states collectively. We have a 42-person team sitting in Eastern Oregon right now, at the Shingle Fire, the largest one they’re managing. We also have some of our engines in South Dakota. We will help people where they need help because we know that we rely on them to help us as well.” REP. LYNN SMITH RECEIVES 2026 GFB COMMODITY AWARD Georgia Farm Bureau (GFB) presented Rep. Lynn Smith its 2026 GFB Commodity Award during the annual GFB Commodity Conference held Aug. 13 at the UGA Tifton Campus Conference Center. The GFB Commodity Award, one of the organization’s highest honors, is given to individuals who have supported and promoted Georgia agriculture. The GFB Board of Directors selects the award recipient from nominees submitted by the organization’s commodity advisory committees. “Lynn always kept the interest of farmers’ success in the forefront of policy decision that came before her committee,” said GFB President Tom McCall. “Her leadership and passion for Georgia and the state’s invaluable and varied natural resources will be carried into the future for generations to come.” A Florida native, Smith is a University of Georgia graduate, a former educator, business owner who completed her 30th year in the Georgia House of Representatives earlier this year representing Georgia District 70. Since being elected to the Georgia House of Representatives in 1996, Smith has been a trusted champion for Georgia’s farmers, foresters, and rural communities. She served as chairwoman of the House Natural Resources and Environment Committee beginning in 2005. During her tenure, she led efforts to protect Georgia’s natural resources while supporting the continued growth of the state’s agricultural economy. Smith helped establish Georgia’s regional water planning framework. Beginning with the Flint River Drought Protection Act and legislation introduced in 2002 and culminating in the successful implementation of regional water planning in 2008, she helped create what she described as “the bridge” that provided state agencies with the tools needed to develop long-term, science-based
GFB Field Notes page 6 of 19 water management solutions for Georgia’s future. During her three decades in the House, she also served on the Appropriations, Rules, and Reapportionment committees. In addition to her service in the Georgia House, Smith served as chair of the Southern Legislative conference Energy and Environment Committee and is a member of the Southern States Energy Board. After earning her degree from UGA in 1968, Smith worked as a teacher, including a stint at Newnan High School, where she taught French, history and civics. She and her late husband, Charles, were married more than 52 years. A master gardener, Smith lives in Newnan, attends Central Baptist Church and enjoys spending time with her children and grandchildren. AGRICULTURAL DATA: MORE LEGAL QUESTIONS THAN ANSWERS By Jay Stone Prof. Ross Pifer of the Penn State Dickinson Law School Center for Agricultural and Shale Law discussed key components of agricultural data law, which he termed a “developing legal area.” “I would call it a developing legal area because we really don't have a lot of established law in terms of statutes, regulations, or other legal authorities that kind of provide some frameworks,” Pifer said. Pifer said there are some voluntary programs but he encouraged farmers to think about how their approach to agricultural data will impact them and what policies should put in place. There are currently a lot more questions than answers, though Pifer said there are significant practical concerns over privacy and security. He noted that the key questions are what data is being collected, who is collecting it, how it is being used, who has access to it and how it can be used against farmers’ interests. “From a legal standpoint, it’s hard to wrap your arms around this topic,” Pifer said. “I think it’s one where there are a lot more questions than there are answers. And I think it’s important to think about how does this affect you as a producer?” Farmers’ concerns about their ag data center on two key areas: privacy and security. Regarding privacy, Pifer said, the goal is to ensure that access to agricultural data is kept away from people whom farmers don’t want to have it. Those people might include regulators, environmental or animal welfare activists, business competitors, vendors, commodity traders and neighbors. For example, a farmer might not want vendors selling to farms having access to the farm’s proprietary information that would let the vendor know how valuable their product is to the farmer. Or, the producer might not want commodities traders to know real-time data on all aspects of the farm operation. Data security is simply making sure that the farmer or rancher the information when they need it. Achieving this requires actions to prevent the data from being lost, corrupted or destroyed, and that the data is portable, meaning that if the farm decides to make a switch from one vendor to another that they can keep the data generated by the first vendor.
GFB Field Notes page 7 of 19 Pifer said that since data is a non-tangible asset, the concept of ownership becomes less clear than it might be for something tangible, because data’s value increases if it is shared. The comparative example he used is a table. “With a table, sharing it doesn’t increase its value. It’s just one table,” Pifer said “Data, if more people have access to it, its value can be increased. I think that’s reflected when you think of aggregated data, that each individual farm is generating data that gets put into an aggregate into a larger system. There is a greater value because now it has the predictive value which farmers can then use. So the farmers generate data, it gets aggregated. It comes back and the farmer can use that data.” Currently available tools available to control how data is applied are use agreements, privacy policies and trade secrets, though Pifer said there are concerns about each because they’re voluntary. One step farmers can take is to look for the Ag Data Transparent (ADT) seal of approval. ADT, which grew out of a series of roundtable discussions set up by the American Farm Bureau Federation in 2014, which offers certifications for companies selling Internet of Things products to farmers. ADT also has an Ag Transparency Evaluator Tool. To use the tool, visit https://www.agdatatransparent.com/. PUBLIC POLICY: CULTIVATE RELATIONSHIPS AND MAKE SURE YOU VOTE By Jay Stone During the general session at the 2026 Georgia Farm Bureau Commodity Conference, GFB Public Policy staff members Adam Belflower, Amelia Holland, and Ben Parker discussed how they work to help achieve organizational goals and what role GFB members play in the policymaking process. Their two main messages: Relationships matter, and good public policy begins at the ballot box. “Every vote matters,” said Holland, who heads up GFB’s I Farm. I Vote. initiative. “Every voice matters. We’re going to keep working for you guys and we certainly hope you’ll join us in this effort to keep agriculture at the front of all these decisions being made in Atlanta and D.C.” Both Belflower and Parker pointed out policies that started with Farm Bureau and ultimately came to be. Belflower, GFB’s state affairs manager, noted that in recent years, the GFB Commodity Advisory Committee for Hay voiced a need to have a UGA Extension forage specialist for North Georgia. Based on this input, GFB members and staff pushed the state legislature to provide funding to support a forage specialist position, and this spring, the legislature did so. The new forage specialist for North Georgia, Justin Burt, was recently hired. Parker noted that a similar effort involving multiple states contributed to the development of the Securing Agriculture’s Workforce Act (H.R. 9535), which was introduced in Congress in June by House Agriculture Committee Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson with 57 cosponsors, among them Reps. Rick Allen and Austin Scott from Georgia. “We took a very targeted approach this last policy cycle, looking at exactly what we want in an H-2A bill,” Parker said. “As a grassroots organization, we developed a policy that best serves those
GFB Field Notes page 8 of 19 that it’s going to affect the most. Because we had buy-in across the country from various ag groups … we had a very easy time getting that put into a bill.” Both Belflower and Parker indicated that Farm Bureau’s policy wins happen because members engage with elected officials. “I think the biggest strength we have when it comes to membership advocacy is relationships,” Belflower said. “Politics are becoming more and more driven by social media. Relationships are more important than social media. When you want to influence policy makers and you want to be a part of the conversation and you want to be able to help shape policy and actually impact what gets across the finish line, you have to have a relationship with those members. Just going out and being an angry Twitter warrior, an angry Facebook person might get you attention, but it doesn't get effective policy across the finish line.” The panel also went into how to cultivate those relationships: • Visit with elected officials – Congressmen, state legislators, local leaders – in person; • Invite them to visit and tour the farm; • Contact them when action a relevant issue is being considered. Said Parker, “Once you’ve established that relationship, be loud.” Emails alone are not enough. “Emails are great, but if you never know what the person looks like or sounds like, then you just kind of have an automatically assigned voice to them in your head,” Parker said. “Getting that name and your face involved with whatever the ask is, coming with a very easy-to-remember narrative for them to spell out in committee hearings or just while they’re in the district. I think those things are really valuable, and we [GFB] do that very well.” The panel addressed the coming mid-term elections, now less than 80 days away. The national mid-term elections – with one Senate seat and three House seats to be determined – garner massive attention, but the down-ballot vote in Georgia should not be overlooked. All of the state’s constitutional officers – governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, attorney general, commissioners of agriculture, insurance and labor, and the state school superintendent – are to be elected in November, as is every seat in the Georgia General Assembly, 180 in the House and 56 in the Senate. In the state elections, Belflower said, the races are closer than they’ve been in decades. “It’s important that you make sure folks in your community realize they need to show up and vote, and that their vote is going to impact the direction of the state and not just their community,” Belflower said. “Advocacy starts at the ballot box. You’ve got to show up and vote and get good policymakers in those positions.” Parker said polling shows every election in the state to be close and almost all of them are within the margin of error. “I will say that it comes down to voter turnout,” Parker said.
GFB Field Notes page 9 of 19 H-2A WAGE RATES TO INCREASE FOR MOST OF THE COUNTRY Dozens of states, including Georgia, will see the AEWR go up for 2026-2027 Georgia farmers who employ migrant laborers under the U.S. Department of Labor’s H-2A program will pay them 1.7% more in 2026-2027 under the first update of the program’s pay methodology set forth in its October 2025 Interim Final Rule. This is the first full annual update since the rule was put into place. Georgia’s AEWR for workers in Skill Level I are to be paid $10.80 per hour, a 2.7% increase over 2025-2026. Skill Level II workers are to be paid $14.72 per hour, up 1.7%. Here is the American Farm Bureau Federation’s analysis of the new AEWR methodology, published Aug. 6 in Farm Bureau Intel, written by AFBF Associate Economist Cameron Castillo: H-2A Adverse Effect Wage Rates (AEWRs) for 2026-2027 are set to increase across the country, with a handful of exceptions. Released by the U.S. Department of Labor's (DOL) Office of Foreign Labor Certification, AEWRs represent the federally mandated minimum wage for H2A guestworkers in each state. Notably, this set of AEWRs is the first full-year iteration of wages based on DOL's new Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, as stipulated by the department’s Interim Final Rule (IFR) issued in October 2025. While these wage rates are a significant improvement from the previous wage structure, congressional action is still needed to ensure farm and ranchers can continue to grow the nutritious food our country depends on for our health and well-being. This Farm Bureau Intel breaks down notable AEWR changes from 2025-2026 by state and skill level, and highlights how farm labor legislation currently under consideration by Congress would help farmers and ranchers who employ H-2A workers. Methodology: OEWS Skill Levels and the Adverse Compensation Adjustment Under the IFR, DOL assigns each state an AEWR for two occupational skill levels drawn from OEWS wage data for field and livestock workers: Skill Level I, which corresponds to entry-level farm labor duties, and Skill Level II, which corresponds to more experienced or supervisoryadjacent roles. Drawing from May 2025 OEWS estimates rather than the May 2024 data that was used to establish the initial 2025-2026 IFR rates, the 2026-2027 rates mark the first complete annual update under the rule. A notable addition to the AEWR calculation included in the IFR is the Adverse Compensation Adjustment (ACA). Expressed as an hourly rate, the ACA is calculated as the weighted average of rents for four-bedroom housing units in the relevant state or territory, based on data from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The ACA is applied on top of the OEWSderived wage for H-2A positions specifically. In practice, this change allows H-2A employers to account for the cost of housing and transportation they’re required to offer to H-2A workers for the length of their contract. The 2026-2027 Wage Rates by State Skill Level I AEWRs for 2026-2027 range from $8.84 per hour in Mississippi to $14.91 in Nebraska, with a simple average of $12.31 across all 50 U.S. states and territories, a 3.5% increase from the previous year’s average of $11.89/hour. Level II rates run from $13.41 in Florida to
GFB Field Notes page 10 of 19 $19.22 in Nebraska, averaging $16.07 per hour nationwide, up from $15.76 a year earlier (a 2.1% increase overall). Importantly, H-2A employers are required to pay their H-2A employees the highest wage rate among five distinct wage categories: the AEWR, the state minimum wage, the prevailing wage, the collective bargaining wage, and the local minimum wage. Several states have minimum wages higher than their AEWR for 2026-2027, as indicated in the maps below. Notable Wage Changes for 2026-2027 Comparing the finalized 2026-2027 rates to the 2025-2026 IFR rates shows an increase overall, though the magnitude varies widely by state and there were a few states that decreased. For Skill Level I, 39 of 54 jurisdictions (50 states plus D.C., Puerto Rico, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands) had an increase, and 15 had a decrease. Kansas recorded the largest increase in the country, up 21.3%, from $11.43 to $13.86 per hour, followed by Nebraska (+15%) and North Dakota (+17.2%). New Hampshire posted the largest decrease, down 2.8% to $11.69. Skill Level II rates moved in the same direction: wages increased in 39 states and territories and decreased in 15, with a total average increase of 2.1% across the board. Rhode Island had the largest increase (+9.7%, to $16.78), while West Virginia posted the steepest decline (-3.1%, to $14.57). Impact on Farm Labor Costs Labor remains one of the largest and least flexible costs on a diversified farm operation, and this year's update lands at a time when farm income is already under pressure from soft commodity prices and elevated input costs. A double-digit AEWR increase in a state like Kansas, Nebraska or Louisiana flows directly into per-acre production costs for the specialty crop and livestock farms that rely on H-2A labor to market their products. As DOL issues subsequent annual updates under the IFR framework, growers should expect continued year-over-year volatility in these rates and should build that uncertainty into multiyear labor cost planning. SAWA’s Solution to AEWR Volatility Legislation introduced by House Agriculture Committee Chairman G.T. Thompson this summer seeks to address the potential for volatile yearly swings in the AEWR. The Securing Agriculture’s Workforce Act (SAWA) includes provisions that would limit year-over-year AEWR increases to no more than 3.25%, while capping decreases at 1.5%. If this provision were the existing law prior to the release of this year’s AEWRs, farmers in several states would see significant wage savings via smaller upward swings in the year-over-year AEWR for their states. For example, in Louisiana, the 2026-2027 ACA-adjusted Skill Level I AEWR increase of 90 cents per hour (10.9 % year-over-year) would have been limited to an increase of just 27 cents per hour, (3.25% year-over-year). While a 63 cents per hour wage difference may seem negligible, Louisiana farmers could expect to save nearly $8.5 million in wage costs for Skill Level I H-2A workers alone. Ultimately, SAWA offers a much-needed solution to address the year-to-year swings in AEWRs, reducing production expense uncertainty for growers who rely on the H-2A visa program to market their products. Conclusion
GFB Field Notes page 11 of 19 DOL’s October 2025 Interim Final Rule made significant strides to move the H-2A program away from the costly wage structure promulgated by the now-defunct Farm Labor Survey. The 2026-2027 AEWRs for Skill Level I and II wages under the H-2A visa program represent the first full year of wages under the new methodology. Wages increased overall, with some states experiencing massive swings that will only add to record-high costs associated with producing an agricultural commodity in 2026. Congress could take significant steps toward codifying the current methodology while curtailing these costly increases by passing the bipartisan Securing Agriculture’s Workforce Act. FINCEN ENDS BOI REPORTING REQUIREMENTS FOR MANY BUSINESSES On Aug. 11, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) issued a final rule that permanently removes the requirement for U.S. companies and U.S. persons to report beneficial ownership information (BOI) to FinCEN under the Corporate Transparency Act. The final rule became effective on Aug. 14. The BOI requirements were set forth under the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA), which went into effect on Jan. 1, 2024. The law was intended to combat money laundering and tax evasion, but its implementation raised concerns about both privacy – the report required business owners to divulge extensive personal information – and costly compliance. The federal government suspended enforcement of the CTA in March 2025. The National Federation of Independent Business said the removal of BOI reporting requirements will save U.S. small businesses more than $128 billion in regulatory and compliance costs. FinCEN also announced that it will delete previously reported information by U.S. persons— now exempt from the reporting requirements—from the beneficial ownership information database. The final rule has five key components: • It adopts the exemptions set out in the interim final rule issued in March 2025, making the rollback of beneficial ownership reporting by U.S. companies permanent; • It exempts U.S. persons who have obtained FinCEN IDs from any obligation to update or correct the information they originally provided to FinCEN to obtain their FinCEN IDs; • It eliminates the requirement for foreign companies to report U.S. person “company applicants” (i.e., the individuals who helped those foreign companies register to do business in the United States); • It exempts foreign pooled investment vehicles registered in the United States from reporting the beneficial ownership information of a U.S person in control of the investment vehicle; and • It confirms that FinCEN will delete information about any individuals—company applicants, beneficial owners, or recipients of a FinCEN ID—that FinCEN reasonably believes is a U.S. person (e.g., the information is linked to a U.S. passport or U.S. driver’s license). Under the final rule, foreign entities that are reporting companies will still be required to report beneficial ownership information for foreign individuals.
GFB Field Notes page 12 of 19 In addition to the final rule, FinCEN has issued Frequently Asked Questions, and will be updating guidance on FinCEN.gov to reflect the final rule. [https://www.fincen.gov/system/files/2026-08/QAs_BOIFinalRule.pdf] UGA TIFTON ENROLLMENT APPROACHES 2,500 STUDENTS By Jay Stone Dr. Timothy Grey, UGA College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences assistant dean and director of the UGA Tifton Campus, welcomed GFB members to Tifton and gave an overview of the campus’ offerings and statistics. A total of 2,460 students are enrolled at the Tifton campus, including 603 incoming undergraduates. “This is a big increase for us in terms of undergraduates coming in. This includes freshmen and transfer students who are coming to the College of Ag,” Grey said, who noted that incoming undergraduates have been awarded more than $750,000 worth of scholarships, including meritbased scholarships, experiential learning and congressional fellowships for students in Washington, D.C. The UGA Tifton Campus employs more than 600 people, has 11 research farms and manages 5,600 acres of cropland, pasture and timber. UGA Tifton has undergraduate programs in agribusiness, agricultural education, agriscience and environmental systems and biological science; master’s degree programs in agricultural and environmental education, plant protection and pest management and a dual degree program in partnership with the University of Padova in Italy; traditional MS and PhD programs and postdoctoral scholars.
GFB Field Notes page 13 of 19 GFB COUNTY VOICES. CAPITOL CHOICES MEETINGS Aug. 25 Kairo’s Farm 10 a.m-noon Brooklet Event location is 270 Rushing Rd., Brooklet Ga., 30415 Georgia Farm Bureau is continuing its series of meetings statewide providing farmers a chance to hear from their state legislators regarding legislation passed during the 2026 Georgia Legislative Session. Farmers and members of Georgia’s ag community can share their legislative concerns. Previous meetings were held in Quitman on April 21, Grovetown on May 11, Rome on May 12, Clermont on July 29 and Perry on Aug. 14. Meetings are free to attend but for planning purposes, we do ask that you register at https://gfb.ag/2026-CVCC. GEORGIA PEANUT COMMISSION PEANUT INNOVATION AWARD Aug. 20 deadline for entries The Georgia Peanut Innovation Award will recognize and reward the most unique and viable new product concept inspired by Georgia Peanuts. The $10,000 cash prize will be awarded at the Sunbelt Ag Expo on Oct. 22. The contest is open to any new and unique application of peanuts, whether the product idea is in the prototype phase or has been on the market for less than a year. While the product must be food-related, it can be intended for either human or animal consumption. Peanut product innovators can enter the contest by visiting www.gapeanuts.com and filling out an official entry form. Entries must be submitted by Aug. 20. After an internal evaluation, five finalist entries will be judged by a panel of business professionals from the fields of agriculture, finance, education, retail and product/recipe development. GEORGIA AGRICULTURAL LABOR RELATIONS FORUM August 25 & 26 UGA-Tifton Conference Center Tifton This two-day program, hosted by the Georgia Fruit & Vegetable Growers Association, is tailored for agricultural employers. The forum's format and design encourages active engagement, enabling ag employers, HR managers, and administrators to collaboratively tackle the ongoing and dynamic challenge of securing and sustaining a reliable workforce within a complex regulatory landscape. This event brings together regulators and renowned experts from the U.S. ag labor industry. Attendees should leave the forum with the ability to navigate ag labor issues, apply best practices and resources, and have the resources to find solutions for their operations and for their employees. Event runs from 9 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. on Aug. 25 and from 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. on Aug. 26. Visit www.georgiaaglaborforum.com for more information and to register.
GFB Field Notes page 14 of 19 IRRIGATION WATER MANAGEMENT WORKSHOPS Aug. 26 Bacon County Extension Office Alma 203 South Dixon Street Ag Complex, Suite 3 Alma, GA 31510. Aug. 27 Vidalia Onion and Vegetable Research Center Lyons 8163 Highway 178, Lyons, GA 30436. Online registration can be accessed at: https://tinyurl.com/cpycec3s. The workshops will explain the efficiencies of impact sprinklers, drip irrigation systems, how to develop an Irrigation Water Management Plan, and hands-on activities assembling basic irrigation systems. If you need an accommodation, please contact Gary Hawkins, at ghawkins@uga.edu or 706-542-7167. Please contact by 21 days prior to workshop date. SOUTHEAST GEORGA PECAN FIELD DAY Aug. 26 8:30 a.m. Wilbur Murray Farms Odum RSVP by Aug. 20 Private and commercial license credits will be provided with sign in upon arriving at event. Event is free, but please RSVP by Aug. 20 to Andrew Sawyer at 912-512-3030 or agsawyer@uga.edu to help with the meal count. Farm is located at 224 Wilbur Rd., Odum, Ga., 31555. GEORGIA EPD FOR REGIONAL WATER COUNCILS Aug. 29 deadline for nominations Recent legislation signed by Gov. Kemp has revised the composition and term for the Regional Water Planning Councils. The updated designation of Water Planning Councils can be found in Section 14 (page 35) of the State Water Plan [https://waterplanning.georgia.gov/state-waterplan],which calls for the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD) to work in coordination with the Georgia Department of Agriculture, Department of Community Affairs, and Department of Economic Development to solicit qualified nominees. Submissions will be collected electronically through the Georgia Water Planning website. [https://waterplanning.georgia.gov/water-planning/council-nominations] The nomination period ends Aug. 29. Nominations will be accepted on a rolling basis, with an initial target to present a list of qualified nominees for a mid-2026 appointment timeframe. Nominations may be submitted either by the individual (self-nomination) or by an organization or interest group. Click here for the nomination form. [https://webportalapp.com/webform/2026_council_nominations]
GFB Field Notes page 15 of 19 ARC/PLC BASE ACRES Aug. 31 deadline to update The USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) has announced eligible landowners have until Aug. 31 to review and consider base acre increases on farms enrolled in the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs. FSA began notifying eligible landowners by direct mail that base allocation summaries outlining potential base acre updates were made available for review beginning June 1. These summaries can be accessed online at https://fsa.usda.gov/arc-plc using a Login.gov account. Landowners who do not currently have a Login.gov account are encouraged to contact their local FSA county office to obtain their Base Allocation Summary. The base allocation summary should be reviewed and any necessary actions completed by Aug. 31. To be eligible for new base acres, a current covered commodity must have been planted or prevented from being planted on the farm during the 2019 through 2023 crop years. The farm’s average planted and prevented planted acres during that period must exceed the total existing base acres for all covered commodities in effect on Sept. 30, 2024, excluding unassigned base acres. FSA farm total base acres cannot exceed the farm’s total cropland acres. If eligible requests exceed the nationwide cap of 30 million acres, USDA will apply an across-the-board, prorated reduction to all approved new base acres. AFBF TAKING APPLICATIONS FOR VETERAN FARMER AWARD Sept. 1 11:59 p.m. ET application deadline The American Farm Bureau Federation, with support from Farm Credit, is seeking applicants for the Veteran Farmer Award of Excellence. The award recognizes U.S. military veterans or service members for excellence in farming or agriculture and positively impacting local communities. The honoree will receive a $10,000 cash prize plus reimbursement in travel and other expenses incurred for him/her and one guest to attend the American Farm Bureau Convention in Charlotte, North Carolina, Jan. 8-12, 2027. Applicants are not required to be Farm Bureau members. The national award recipient will be recognized by AFBF through various outlets and should be willing to share their story and represent the veteran farmer community. The recipient will be notified in midSeptember, with the winner announced publicly on Veterans Day, Nov. 11. Learn more and apply here. [www.fb.org/initiative/afbf-veteran-farmer-award-of-excellence] GEORGIA NATIONAL FAIR TICKETS FLASH SALE Sept. 2 & Sept. 3 https://www.georgianationalfair.com/p/tickets Online only The 2026 Georgia National Fair will be held Thursday, Oct. 8-Sunday, Oct. 18. Planning to go? You can save $5 off ticket prices between 9 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 1 and Thursday, Sept. 3, 10 p.m. by buying your tickets online at https://www.georgianationalfair.com/p/tickets. From Sept. 7 – Oct. 7, online, advance ticket prices will be $15 for adults (ages 11 & older), and $4 for children (3-10). Adult tickets purchased with cash at the gate will be $20, excluding discounted admission days, which will be $10. Adult tickets bought with a credit card at the gate will be $15. Seniors 60 & up are $10 every day. Note: Thursday, Oct. 8 Discounted gate admission will be $10 for adults (ages 11 and up) cash or card purchases & children 10 and under are free when the fair opens at 4
GFB Field Notes page 16 of 19 p.m.; On Oct. 12, Patriotic Day, there will be free gate admission for all active, veteran, reserve & retired military members with ID and their immediate family members; on Oct. 13, American Hero’s Day, there will be free gate admission for all Firefighters, Law Enforcement, Dispatchers and EMT with agency ID and their immediate family members and discounted gate admission: $10 for all adults (ages 11 and up) cash or card purchase and children 10 and under are free; and Oct. 14 is WOW Wednesday: Discounted gate admission $10 for adults (ages 11 and up) cash or card purchases & children 10 and under are free! For more information about pricing & specific discount days that require proof, visit https://www.georgianationalfair.com/p/getconnected/pricing. COTTON & PEANUT RESEARCH FIELD DAY Sept. 2 UGA Tifton Campus Conference Center 8 a.m. Tifton The Georgia Cotton Commission, Georgia Peanut Commission and the University of Georgia Extension Cotton and Peanut Teams, co-sponsor this joint research field day. The purpose of the tour is to showcase current research, which is funded by the respective commissions, in plot-side presentations by the researchers. The sponsors’ goal is to provide an educational environment for cotton and peanut farmers and give them the opportunity to pose questions directly to the researchers and to express opinions and concerns pertinent to the production of their crops. The field day will start at the University of Georgia Lang Farm located at 230 Rigdon Aultman Road. Attendees will tour several trials and hear from speakers. Attendees will return to the UGA Tifton Campus Conference Center for lunch and a short program. The field day is a free event, but attendees are encouraged to RSVP to Mallory Marchant at mallory.marchant@uga.edu or calling 229-386-3366 to provide an accurate count for lunch. GEORGIA PECAN GROWERS ASSOCIATION FALL FIELD DAY Sept. 3 Southern Hills Orchards 9 a.m. Leesburg Topics will include hedging, spacing, varieties, pecan scab, pest and disease management. Onsite registration begins at 8:15 a.m. with program starting at 9 a.m. Event is free for GPGA members but costs $40 for nonmembers. Please register ahead of time for an accurate meal count at www.eventbrite.com/e/gpga-annual-fall-field-day-tickets-1990106651567?aff=oddtdtcreator. If you aren’t a GPGA member, you may join when you register. Farm is located at 441 Laramore Rd., Leesburg, GA, 31763.
GFB Field Notes page 17 of 19 AFBF FARM 250 PHOTO CONTEST Sept. 9 Entry deadline American Farm Bureau is celebrating 250 years of agriculture by highlighting farms and ranches across the country through its FARM 250 Photo Contest. Farm Bureau members are encouraged to enter photos that highlight anything pertaining to American ranching or farming, from sunrises and sunsets, family portraits, hero images, landscapes and farmscapes. The top 10 photos will be chosen by voting across AFBF social media platforms and on the FARM250 website. The finalists’ photos will be featured in the American Farm Bureau booth at the 2027 American Farm Bureau Convention, Jan. 8-13. The contest winner is eligible for a new iPhone 17, courtesy of T-Mobile, and an expense-paid trip to Charlotte, North Carolina, for the 2027 American Farm Bureau Convention. Visit www.fb.org/initiative/farm250 to enter the contest and for all official rules. GEORGIA FOUNDATION FOR AG 2026 STEM CHALLENGE Sept. 11 application deadline The Georgia Foundation for Agriculture registration period for the 2026 Georgia Ag Experience STEM Challenge is open through Sept. 11. The 2026 STEM challenge invites 3rd–5th grade students to explore how to design and operate an agriculture-based market stand or school farmers market. Participants will create a video (5 minutes or less) documenting their project, including everything learned throughout the process. The video should address the main topic, showcase creative solutions, and highlight the project’s connection to agriculture and STEM. Participating classes can register as a 3rd-grade class, 4th-grade class, 5th-grade class, special education class, or as a homeschool or community group. A top winner will be selected for each of our five categories. Winners will receive a $250 cash prize for their classroom and up to $100 in physical prizes of their choice! Visit https://gfb.ag/GFA26STEMChallenge for complete contest details and to register. 2026 GEORGIA FORAGES CONFERENCE Sept. 17 UGA Tifton Conference Center Small Auditorium 8 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Tifton UGA Forage team members and invited speakers will discuss managing forages to prevent invasive species and how to build more resilient and economical forage systems. Click here the to register. [https://uga.ungerboeck.com/prod/emc00/PublicSignIn.aspx?&aat=704e443956354d4450494744 42357148446a4e7a494c483055366b4f61304374323042775a796f6c574f6f3d]
GFB Field Notes page 18 of 19 GACD SOIL HEALTH WORKSHOP Sept. 17 registration deadline Sept. 24 Johnson Angus Farm, 2738 Cedar Grove Rd. 10 a.m. – noon Jefferson This workshop, presented by the Oconee River Soil and Water Conservation District, will feature presentations on soil health, hay production, nutrient management and common issues. Program includes demonstrations and partner updates from the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service, UGA Extension and the Georgia Soil & Water Conservation Commission. A free lunch will be provided. To register, call 678-956-3015 or visit www.gacd.us/events. KEL-MAC SADDLE CLUB HORSE SHOWS Sept. 19 & Oct. 24 Morgan Co. Ag Center Madison These shows are open to equestrians of all ages and experience levels. Classes include hunter/jumper, western, gaited, trail obstacles, ranch riding, ranch reining, dressage on the rail, halter/showmanship, “small fry” and more. All shows begin at 9 a.m. - rain or shine. Trail classes are from 10 a.m. -3 p.m. Western Classes not to start before lunch. Riders must be members of Kel-Mac to accrue points towards year-end awards. Age divisions for competition are as follows: Small Fry: 10 and under; Junior: under 14 years of age; Senior: 14 years and over. Novice: Rider is in 1st or 2nd year of showing. Green Horse: Horse is in 1st or 2nd year of showing. Entry fee per class is $10. Stall fees are $15 for club members & $20 nonmembers. All overnight stalls are $25. Each horse show is an “an all-breed show” which means there are a wide variety of disciplines offered in the more than 50 classes. The focus of the Kel-Mac shows is to include everyone and help participants become more comfortable with showing. For more information about the shows, visit the KelMac Saddle Club Facebook or Instagram pages or www.kel-mac.com or call Arlene Williams at 706-431-8600. Signup for shows on the website. General admission is free and concession food and drinks will be available. The Morgan County Ag Center is located at 2380 Athens Hwy. (441), north of Madison. These volunteer-run shows generate funds to benefit KelMac’s equestrian related charities. The Kel-Mac Saddle Club has donated more than $170,250 back to Georgia’s Piedmont region during its 50 years including: the Georgia Equine Rescue League, ReDux Equine Rescue, Sweet Olive Rescue, and the Morgan County Sheriff’s Empty Stocking Fund, and the equestrian facilities of state & county parks such as A. H. Stephens, Hard Labor Creek, and Heritage Park.
GFB Field Notes page 19 of 19 38TH ANNUAL GEORGIA PEANUT TOUR Sept. 22-24 Savannah and surrounding area This tour brings the latest information on peanuts while giving a firsthand view of industry infrastructure from production and handling to processing and utilization. Tour stops will be made in several peanut-producing counties in South Georgia. Attendees can expect to see first-hand nearly every aspect of peanut production in the state. This year’s tour hosts many exciting stops including on-farm harvest demonstrations and clinics, research at the University of Georgia Southeast Research and Education Center, Georgia Ports Authority and MANA Nutrition. The tour kicks off this year with the Hot Topics Seminar on Sept. 22 at 2:30 p.m. at The Clyde Venue in Savannah, Georgia. The seminar topics include an update on the 2026 Georgia peanut crop and a special focus on production challenges, enhancing production and climate issues with emphasis on irrigation, fertilizer and other inputs. For specific tour information or details, contact David West at 229-386-3470. Click here to register. Visit www.georgiapeanuttour.com for more info. [https://www.eventzilla.net/e/2026-georgia-peanut-tour-2138672601] MERCER MEDICAL SCHOOL SURVEY ON FARMER CANCER PREVENTION Survey ends Sept. 30 Are you a farmer 18 years or older who owns or operates a farm in Georgia? If so, Mercer University School of Medicine (MUSM) researchers need your help! MUSM is conducting an Institutional Review Board-approved study to better understand cancer prevention practices among Georgia farmers, including topics such as sun (UV) exposure and pesticide safety. Your experiences are important. By participating, you'll help researchers better understand the needs of Georgia's farming community and support the development of future educational programs and resources designed specifically for Georgia farmers. Survey takes 20–30 minutes. Three participants will receive a $100 Amazon gift card through a random drawing after completing the survey. Visit https://gfb.ag/mercermedcancersurvey to take the survey. LALLEMAND ANIMAL NUTRITION SCHOLARSHIPS Sept. 30 deadline to apply Applications for the 2026 Lallemand Scholarship are open through Sept. 30. Interested students must be full-time students enrolled in agriculture-related programs at accredited institutions in the United States, Canada, or Mexico. Applications will be evaluated based on academic achievement, leadership qualities, commitment to the agricultural industry and an essay submission that highlights creativity, originality, and forward-thinking perspectives. There are five scholarship categories: Two $2,500 scholarships for undergraduate students; one $3,000 scholarship for a master’s student; one $3,000 scholarship for a doctoral candidate; and one $3,000 scholarship for a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) student. Learn more about eligibility and to apply by visiting the Lallemand Animal Nutrition website. Lallemand Animal Nutrition is a global company that offers microbial solutions for animal health and performance. [https://www.lallemandanimalnutrition.com/en/united-states/lallemand-animal-nutritionscholarship-program/]
GFB Field Notes page 20 of 19 GEORGIA FARM BUREAU HAY CONTEST Oct. 30 deadline to enter Enter the 35th Annual Georgia Farm Bureau (GFB) Quality Bermudagrass Hay Contest by Oct. 30. The first-place winner will receive the free use of a Vermeer wheel rake for one year, courtesy of the Vermeer Corporation. The winner will have the option to buy the rake at a reduced price at the end of the year. Hay entered in the contest will be tested at a University of Georgia lab using the Relative Forage Quality (RFQ) Test, which provides analysis of a hay sample’s nutritional value and expected digestibility for livestock. The RFQ score give sellers and buyers an idea of the quality of the hay they are producing or buying for their livestock. Contest winners will be determined by the RFQ analysis. Winners will be announced at the GFB convention in December. Prizes will also be presented to the second through fifth-place winners. Entry forms and complete contest rules may be picked up at your county Farm Bureau office or downloaded at www.gfb.ag/HayContest . You may also contact the GFB Public Policy Department at 1-800-3421192 if you have any questions about the contest. There is a $25 fee for each entry to cover the cost of the lab test. Producers may enter more than one sample. Any producer submitting more than one sample can only place in the Top 5 with one sample – their highest scored sample – but will receive analysis for all submitted samples. Checks should be made payable to Georgia Farm Bureau. Entry fees, forms and samples should be sent to the GFB Public Policy Department 1620 Bass Road Macon, Ga., 31210. 2ND ANNUAL GEORGIA FARM BUREAU PB&J 5K Nov. 13 Registration deadline Nov. 14 Georgia National Fairgrounds & Agricenter Perry Come for the run. Stay for the fried PB&J! Sign up today for the 5K on Nov. 14 at the Georgia National Fairgrounds. The course is flat, fast, and completely paved — perfect for all skill levels. Registration is $30. Runners must register by 8 p.m. Nov. 13. No registrations morning of race. Enjoy a post-run grilled PB&J sandwich, compliments of the Georgia Peanut Commission! The race will include a themed costume contest and in honor of America’s 250th Anniversary, there will be a Freedom Finish Line celebration. If you’re bringing the family, after the race be sure to check out the Georgia National Antique Agriculture Show for FREE — a perfect way to step back in time and enjoy a look at the history of agriculture. Visit https://www.gfb.org/pb-and-j-5k to register and for more information. GA FFA STUDENT FARMER MENTAL HEALTH SURVEY Landon Hembree, a junior at Colquitt County High School and the son of a third-generation farmer, is conducting a survey for a research project on farm stress. We appreciate our farm youth in Georgia who care about our farmers and their mental health! Way to go Landon! If you would like to help Landon out by completing his survey, visit The Psychosocial Factors Affecting Agricultural Producers. [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScKGkzLUGlDJxGSfJwXUILEp88Deo24poZQaS HmOVnHsTCtMw/viewform]
GFB Field Notes page 21 of 19 GFB HAY DIRECTORY GFB is accepting listings for its online hay directory. Farm Bureau members with hay for sale or who offer custom harvesting or custom sprigging services are invited to list their hay and/or services in the GFB Quality Hay Directory published on the GFB website. Hay for sale or services can be listed or removed from the directory throughout the year. To be included in GFB’s online hay directory, complete a submission form by visiting your county Farm Bureau office or online at www.gfb.ag/hay. Please include a $10 check made payable to Georgia Farm Bureau for each listing of hay, custom harvesting or custom sprigging. Multiple listings are allowed. Listings can be updated in the directory throughout the year as hay inventories change. Hay producers who entered the GFB Quality Hay Contest receive a free listing in the online GFB Hay Directory. CONSERVATION DISTRICTS OFFER FERAL HOG CONTROL SERVICES For a list of feral hog control services available in each GACD Conservation District, visit https://gfb.ag/feralhoggacdresources. 988 SUICIDE & CRISIS LIFELINE OFFERS SUPPORT The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline can be reached by calling or texting 988 or chatting on 988lifeline.org. 988 is a universal entry point so that no matter where you live in the U.S., you can easily access 24/7 emotional support. You don’t have to be suicidal to reach out. 988 trained crisis counselors can help you through whatever mental health challenges you are experiencing.