Agriculture Department’s Sutton is man on a mission

ALBANY, Ga. — Georgia Department of Agriculture Chief Administrative officer James Sutton told the Albany Rotary Club Thursday that he is a man on a simple mission — talk to people about the ag department.

“For the first time in 42 years, the state of Georgia has a new commissioner of agriculture,” Sutton said, referring to former commissioner Tommy Irvin who was replaced this year by Gary Black. “Commissioner Black is bringing a new vision to the department. He called us in, said he had a mission for us and then he asked us a question: ‘What do we do and why do we do it?’

“That’s why I’m here.”

As the regulatory body of the state’s largest industry, the agriculture department’s job is to protect consumers, promote agriculture both locally and globally and assist its customers by using education, technology and a professional workforce.

Agriculture in Georgia, Sutton said, is a $65 billion a year revenue producer. Then he offered an example of ag’s importance to the state.

“Does anyone here know what segment produces the most revenue?” Sutton asked the room.

Guesses of peanuts, peaches and cotton were offered before a Rotarian suggested, “Chickens!”

“That’s right, poultry,” Sutton replied. “Georgia is the number one state in chicken production in the United States. In fact, if the state of Georgia seceded from the union and became its own country, it would be the world’s fifth-largest producer of poultry.

“That’s how big the industry is.”

Last year, Georgia broilers pumped more than $4.8 billion into the state’s economy.

Sutton then gave a little history lesson explaining how in the mid-1700s, Gen. James Oglethorpe, founder of the colony of Georgia, planted seeds he had brought with him from England to see which would be more compatible with the native soil.

“Oglethorpe had just set up the first experimental ag station in what would become the United States,” Sutton said.

In 1847, Georgia established the young nation’s first state-level department of agriculture.

“As time changes, ag changes,” Sutton said. “One of the commissioner’s goals is to get out and talk to the citizens and tell them what we do.”

Sutton then closed with a final example.

“For instance, most people don’t know that the Georgia Department of Agriculture performs free termite inspection on homes,” Sutton said. “All they need to do is call us or communicate with us through our website (agr.georgia.gov) and we’ll set it up.”