Browse Personal Finance and Budgeting Stories - Page 13

The recent vote by the U.S. House of Representatives Agricultural Committee to approve a five-year, $500 billion farm bill has encouraged Georgia peanut growers and given them hope that some legislation will be decided on this year.

Prized by chefs and foodies, pecan grove truffles have long been the secret jewels of Georgia’s pecan orchards. However, new research and truffle searching methods may soon bring the fungal delicacy to more Georgia tables.

First-year agricultural education teachers are earning an annual salary of $45,000. So why is there a shortage of these teachers around the state?

Due to last year’s record-breaking peanut harvest and the current surplus supply of peanuts, Georgia peanut farmers will likely decrease the number of acres they plant this year.

Some Georgia farmers are looking to food hubs as a way to better market their produce and make the process of getting their produce to market more efficiently.

As emerging international markets for Georgia agricultural products continue to grow, Georgia farmers need to be aware of the impacts the global marketplace can have on their bottom line. This year, in recognition of the growing importance of the global marketplace to Georgia farmers, Georgia Department of Economic Development Director of International Trade Kathe Falls will deliver the keynote talks at the 2013 Ag Forecast series. The Farm-to-Port Ag Forecast will be held in locations across the state Jan. 25 to Feb. 1.

Every year, the holiday shopping season seems to start a little earlier. To compete with online shopping options, brick and mortar retailers keep opening earlier and earlier on Black Friday morning. This year, the holiday shopping season will be well underway even before Thanksgiving dinner has been reduced to leftovers.

Despite a bumper crop of high-quality pecans this year, Georgia’s growers will probably make fewer profits from their harvest. However, consumers can expect to pay about the same price for the tree nuts as they did last fall.

Sweeping changes were approved in last year’s House Bill 386 that exempt inputs used in agricultural production from Georgia sales tax collections. For certified producers or farmers this means most of the items they buy to use in agricultural production will be sales tax exempt beginning in 2013.

Data released this week shows Georgia’s obesity rate is improving, but 28 percent of the state's citizens still weigh in as obese. Growing health problems and rising healthcare costs are straining both the physical and economic wellbeing of America.