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Georgia agriculture chief seeks staffing, lab and vehicle funding as rural center integrates into Department of Agriculture
Summary
Commissioner Tyler Harper told the Appropriations subcommittee the Rural Center will move fully under the Department of Agriculture in January and outlined staffing shortfalls, hemp program enforcement, HPAI monitoring, and federal grant delays that are straining the agency's budget.
Commissioner Tyler Harper updated the Appropriations Subcommittee on the Department of Agriculture's priorities and budget strains, saying the agency will complete the Rural Center's integration and transfer those employees to state employment in January.
Harper said the move will house staff "in Department of Ag facilities" in Tipton and end the university's (ABAC) personnel arrangement on Dec. 31, while the agency will pursue construction funding for an Atlanta lab and year-round operational support for staff. "There'll be a full, separation and inclusion under the Department of Agriculture, effective basically in January," he said.
Why it matters: the department oversees food safety, animal health and rural economic development across Georgia. Harper told the committee those responsibilities are…
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