CONGRESSMAN BISHOP AND DEPUTY SECRETARY TORRES SMALL HIGHLIGHT USDA PROGRAM HELPING REDUCE ENERGY COSTS DURING TOUR OF SOUTHWEST GEORGIA FARM

DONALSONVILLE, Ga. -On Wednesday, April 3rd, Congressman Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (GA-02), the leading Democrat on the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, the Food & Drug Administration, and Related Agencies, joined Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture Xochitl Torres Small for a tour of Thompson Family Farms in Donalsonville, Georgia.

The farm is a family-owned row crop and drying operation that received a USDA Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) award. REAP helps agricultural producers and rural small business owners install energy efficient improvements, renewable energy investments, and increase local and American energy independence. In the long term, this greatly reduces their energy costs, increasing their profits.

"Southwest Georgia farmers have a broad portfolio of crops so that they can stay profitable across seasons and shifting market conditions. USDA programs play a crucial role, helping them improve infrastructure, access to capital, and operational efficiency. These programs support projects that benefit our farmers in the long run but which may have high, up-front costs," said Congressman Bishop. "Congress plays a crucial role in this effort. I was proud to support the Inflation Reduction Act which has boosted funds for programs like REAP which is available to all rural farmers, EMCs, and small businesses, helping them save money on energy costs while at the same time making our local energy grids more resilient."

"Rural America is hard at work, producing the food, fiber, and fuel our nation relies on," said Agriculture Deputy Secretary Torres Small. "President Biden's historic investment in rural America supports that work all across our country, through real-life solutions to decades-old challenges-bringing high speed internet to communities across the country, updating waste-water infrastructure, and increasing competition through more and better markets. USDA is committed to investing in farmers to promote growth and build a stronger, more sustainable economy for people in rural communities throughout Georgia and across our country."

The Congressman and Deputy Secretary toured the Thompson Family Farm's drying facilities, where they prepare grain grown for feed which is sold as part of the supply chain upon which other agriculture producers in Georgia, and beyond, rely to raise livestock, including cattle and poultry. Thompson Family Farms used its $232,954 REAP grant to purchase and install a replacement grain dryer. A lot of energy is used in the drying process and the new dryer reduced their power use by 125,189 kWh per year, a reduction of 56%. Other rural farmers and small businesses are seeing similar savings through REAP-supported projects that are helping them significantly cut their energy costs.

In the past six months alone, USDA Rural Development has invested over $10 million in REAP funds for 77 projects in Georgia. Eight of those projects, receiving $667,408, were in Georgia's Second Congressional District. The Georgia projects are helping businesses to increase their energy efficiency, include solar energy production, and install irrigation pumps and conversions.

Interested farmers and small business owners in rural communities can learn more about REAP by visiting USDA Rural Development's website:

https://www.rd.usda.gov/inflation-reduction-act/rural-energy-america-program-reap(link is external)

The next round of applications for REAP are due June 30, 2024. Learn more about eligibility and how to apply by visiting https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/energy-programs/rural-energy-america-program-renewable-energy-systems-energy-efficiency-improvement-guaranteed-loans(link is external).

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Issues:Building Our CommunitiesAgriculture & Rural Development