CAES Newswire

 College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences UGA Cooperative Extension
Menu
Published on 01/31/08

Drought forces industry to reduce workforce

By Sharon Omahen
University of Georgia

Georgia’s urban agriculture industry will continue to lose profits and employees if drought conditions remain over the state this year, according to a University of Georgia survey.

UGA experts with the Center for Urban Agriculture conducted a survey in November and December last year to see how the current drought, which started in March 2006, has affected one of Georgia’s largest industries. Georgia’s Urban Agriculture Council helped develop and implement the survey.

In all, 168 landscapers, turfgrass farmers and retail and wholesale garden business owners responded with a gloomy economic picture.

“The business owners we surveyed reported substantial layoffs in 2007 resulting in the loss of 848 workers,” said Ellen Bauske, the center’s program coordinator. “If the drought continues, the businesses surveyed expect to lose an additional 708 employees.”

The drought is withering profits, too, along with the plants and grasses the industry produces and sells. Survey results show a monthly average loss of $37,516 per company.

“In an industry with a median income of $800,000 per company, many companies won’t be able to sustain losses of that magnitude,” Bauske said. “We can expect more news of bankruptcies, business failures and liquidation of company assets if the situation continues.”

Based on the survey, Bauske and her colleagues project devastating losses in the coming year.

“A calculated loss of $260 million per month can be contributed to the drought and water restrictions imposed on the industry,” she said. “If the current drought conditions continue, the results could grow to an annual loss of $3.15 billion and 30,000 employees.”

In all, it is estimated that 35,000 employees working in the Georgia urban agriculture industry have lost their jobs since the drought started. Business owners appear to be keeping full-time employees and cutting part-time and seasonal workers, she said.

For more detailed information on the survey and the economic impact of the drought, visit the publications section of the center’s Web site www.gaurbanag.org/industry.

Sharon Omahen is a news editor with the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.

Experts/Sources:
Ellen M. Bauske
After a hearty climb, Connect Abroad Italy students pose in front of the Leaning Tower of Pisa. (Photo by Angel Bhardwaj) CAES News
UGA ranks as leading doctoral institution for study abroad 12/20/24 Angel Bhardwaj
The University of Georgia remains among the top 10 U.S. universities for study abroad participation, according to the 2024 Open Doors Report released by the Institute of International Education in partnership with the U.S. Department of State. UGA boasts the highest study abroad participation to enrollment ratio of the top 7 ranked doctoral institutions, earning the No. 7 spot in overall participation and No. 3 in short-term study abroad programs.
HurricaneHeleneGreenhouseDamageCropped CAES News
UGA Extension supports resilience in Georgia farm communities after Hurricane Helene 12/19/24 Emily Cabrera
Hurricane Helene wrought sweeping devastation across Georgia’s agricultural sector in late September, leaving an indelible mark on both the land and the people who tend it, bringing focus to vulnerabilities in Georgia’s farming industry and the need for more robust safety nets. In addition to the physical destruction, the hurricane took an emotional toll on Georgia’s farmers. In response, UGA Extension has prioritized mental health support.
From left, CAES Associate Professor Abigail Borron and Fulbright Romanian-American Foundation Scholars Mihai Suteu, Daniyar Memedemin, Alina Zaharia, Andreea Ona and Daniel Chiciudean stand in front of an image of the Romanian flag projected onto a barn at UGArden. CAES News
Fulbright Scholars unite with UGA Extension to envision ag outreach model in Romania 12/18/24 Maria M. Lameiras
Arriving on the Athens campus of the University of Georgia in August 2023, five Romanian scholars experienced the same anticipation, excitement and apprehension as many first-year students.  Chosen as Fulbright Romanian-American Foundation Scholars, each serves on the faculty at one of three Romanian universities, specializing in fields from economics and engineering to plant breeding and biotechnology. The five scholars comprised the first cohort of the Romanian Extension Education Development Program, an ambitious three-year pilot effort to facilitate planning and implementation of extension services in Romania. 
Janiver in sunflower field AI web CAES News
A larger-than-life legacy: CAES student’s contagious enthusiasm inspired others 12/17/24 Jordan Powers
When Miriam Edelkind-Vealey applied for a summer role at a University of Georgia pollinator biodiversity lab in 2020, the junior undergrad didn’t quite know what to expect. After being told she got the position, Edelkind-Vealy didn’t hear anything for a few weeks. It was only then that she learned a collaborator on the project, second-year master’s degree student Amy Joy Janvier, had passed away.
In developing markets where making staple foods is a daily task and warmer climates where food spoilage is common, foods that have more longevity and are easily preserved can enhance economic opportunities by reducing food preparation tasks and lower environmental impact. CAES News
CAES researchers look to reduce food waste by extending shelf life 12/16/24 Lillian Sosbee
“Use by,” “Sell by” and “Best by” dates on food packaging can be helpful indicators of how long a consumer can store a food item before eating, but often these dates lead to high quantities of wasted food. About one-fifth of food produced for human consumption is discarded before it can be eaten, equating to 1 billion meals a day and contributing to global food insecurity.
Recognizing the 100 fastest-growing businesses owned or led by UGA graduates CAES News
UGA celebrates 15 years of Bulldog 100 12/13/24 Rachael Andrews
The University of Georgia Alumni Association released the 2025 Bulldog 100, a list of the 100 fastest-growing businesses owned or led by UGA graduates. The program, organized by the Division of Development & Alumni Relations, celebrates 15 years of honoring alumni and their entrepreneurial endeavors. Among this year’s class, businesses are headquartered in a total of eight states, with 87 of the businesses located in Georgia. In total, 142 alumni representing over two dozen industries are being recognized as a part of this year’s list.