About

Public Policy and Regulatory Efforts

Committed to Collaborative Public Policy Engagement - GGIA is committed to fostering the sustainability and success of Georgia’s green industry. Our approach focuses on educating policymakers at all levels of government about the importance of our industry, promoting practical legislative solutions, and building bipartisan support for policies that drive economic and environmental benefits.

Key Legislative Priorities:
State Affairs

Horticultural Water Resources

Support sustainable water management policies that ensure access for horticultural uses while protecting Georgia's water resources.
To offset water use during periods of rapid onset drought conditions, encourage exploring and implementing alternative water resources such as greywater, rainwater harvesting, and other stormwater collection and storage systems.
Support incentives, ordinances, and regulations that highlight horticulture's role in water conservation and sustainable landscapes. Current EPD regulations are effective, and any revisions should maintain the existing parameters that recognize horticulture’s role in the environment and economy.
Engage in discussions about water use for emerging industries like data centers to ensure the demands do not restrict water access for environmental/ornamental horticulture or reduce the environmental and economic benefits or impact of Georgia's green industry.

Workforce Development and Access

Collaborate with state leaders to expand workforce training opportunities, providing resources for careers in the green industry, including funding for postsecondary education in environmental/ornamental horticulture and related fields.
Encourage policies that promote a stable and accessible workforce for Georgia agriculture, including horticulture.

Industry Growth

Collaborate to simplify zoning and permitting processes that hinder establishing or expanding growing operations, landscape distribution centers, garden centers, and landscape holding yards.
Advocate for streamlined regulatory processes to promote business growth and reduce delays for green industry stakeholders.
Support local and state policies encouraging investment in green industry infrastructure and operational facilities.
Work with counties to establish a consistent understanding and application of agriculture and agricultural structure definitions, ensuring fair tax and assessment practices for horticulture across Georgia’s 159 counties.
Advocate for tort reform measures to protect green industry businesses from frivolous lawsuits and excessive legal costs, ensuring a fair and balanced legal system for all stakeholders.

Climate Resilience

Encourage the integration of horticultural practices to address shared environmental challenges, including stormwater management, water conservation, carbon sequestration, water and air quality, wildlife habitat, and other ecological benefits that result from the installation and maintenance of landscapes or ornamental/environmental horticultural products.
Support and promote consumer education in all aspects of proper landscape management, including the use of the “right plant, right place.”
Advocate for sound, science-based approaches to managing invasive and exotic plant species.

Research and Extension Funding

Secure USDA grants and collaborations to enhance green industry research, including pest prevention and crop innovation.
Advocate for filling vacant extension specialist positions focused on environmental/ornamental horticulture, with emphasis placed on commercial production.
Support funding for Cooperative Extension, applied research, and the University System of Georgia, which provides many tangible benefits for the horticulture industry across the state.

Industry Best Practices

Support the development of state-approved certification programs for landscape and irrigation contractors, utilizing existing industry certification frameworks.
Promote public policy and regulation that empower green industry professionals to implement innovative and effective solutions for plant care and the maintenance of ornamental/environmental horticultural products.

Georgia’s Green Industry:
By the Numbers

$1.28B

$11.1B

farm gate value contribution to Georgia’s economy.

economic impact when including service-based multipliers.

Greenhouse is the 7th largest agricultural commodity.

4th

largest agricultural commodity group in Georgia.

73,801

Georgians employed in the green industry.

Georgia’s Green Industry: Top Counties by Production

Greenhouse Production

1. Gwinnett County: $112.8 million

2. Columbia County: $104.6 million

3. Forsyth County: $49.8 million

4. Hart County: $24.8 million

5. Paulding County: $23.5 million

Field Grown Production

1. Putnam County: $20.1 million

2. Walton County: $20.1 million

3. Morgan County: $18.5 million

4. Oglethorpe County: $18.5 million

5. Jasper County: $18.5 million

Container Nursery Production

1. McDuffie County: $61.3 million

2. Grady County: $39.8 million

3. Lowndes County: $10.7 million

4. Polk County: $9 million

5. Oconee County: $8.1 million

Turfgrass Sod Production

1. Macon County: $63 million

2. Sumter County: $47 million

3. Peach County: $20.2 million

4. Bartow County: $16.5 million

5. Gordon County: $8.7 million

Key Legislative Priorities:
Federal Affairs

H-2A and H-2B Immigration Programs

Advocate for comprehensive reforms to streamline and improve the H-2A and H-2B visa programs to ensure a reliable and documented labor force.
Support legislative actions that simplify the application process and reduce administrative burdens on employers.
Work to understand and influence the Department of Labor’s methodology for determining the Adverse Wage Effect Rate (AWER), addressing concerns about disproportionately high increases for southern farmers over the past three years.
Advocate for cap increases and returning worker exemptions on the H-2B program.

Regulatory Reform

Encourage a responsible regulatory environment that protects our resources without putting undue burden on growers and landscape professionals.
Reduce unnecessary burdens placed on growers by OSHA and EPA by advocating for regulatory reforms that align with the realities of agricultural and horticultural operations, including the OSHA Heat Rule and EPAs Herbicide and Insecticide Strategies.
Support Congressional oversight to ensure regulations are fair, practical, and supportive of industry sustainability.

Farm Bill

A comprehensive and timely passage of the Farm Bill is critical to ensuring sustained investment in research, disaster relief, and resources essential for the success and resilience of Georgia’s green industry.

Research Funding

Advocate for increased and sustained federal investment in research initiatives that benefit the green industry, including pest prevention, disease control, and innovation in sustainable practices.
Promote collaboration between the USDA, land grant universities, and industry stakeholders to address emerging challenges and opportunities.

Disaster Relief and Infrastructure

Ensure equitable access to disaster relief programs tailored for specialty crop growers, including funding for recovery from weather-related events.
Advocate for reforms that make disaster assistance more accessible and effective for the diverse needs of all nursery, greenhouse, and specialty crop producers.
Expand and improve crop insurance programs to make them more viable and tailored to the unique needs of nursery, greenhouse, and horticultural operations..