Georgia’s century-old agricultural extension service could undergo a severe gutting this year as falling state tax revenue has forced the University System of Georgia to trim millions from its programs.
Some county offices in Northwest Georgia, which run 4-H programs at schools and provide agricultural support for local farmers, could be closed or consolidated in coming years as the statewide Cooperative Extension plans for possible further cuts.
“We are hoping we have seen the bottom, but nobody really knows at this point,” said Tony Tyson, director of county operations for UGA Cooperative Extension.
In the last two years, the service’s budget statewide has been cut by 20 percent, and there have been no signs of a rebound in funding any time soon, officials said.
Eighty positions across the state have been vacated by attrition and retirement, and none of the spots has been filled with new hires, leaving big gaps in county services. Sixteen counties, including Dade, have no agents working with residents, Mr. Tyson said.
Many states are being forced to face the question of whether they can afford to continue providing extension programs. Higher education officials in Tennessee have had to prod many county agents into early retirement and also are debating tough cuts to Cooperative Extension.
Still, Georgia residents have been quick to show their support for threatened extension services. During the recent legislative session, some university system officials proposed to cut 4-H programs and eliminate half the county extension offices because of higher education’s budget shortfall. But that idea was taken off the table because of overwhelming public opposition.
“I hope that nothing ever happens to the 4-H program in Georgia, because it has impacted too many lives and will continue to,” said Rachel Dawson, Walker County 4-H volunteer.
Ms. Dawson was one of hundreds of 4-H supporters who posted their support for the organization on the UGA website when more serious cuts were being discussed.
“I’m a third-generation Georgia 4-H’er and have hopes that my kids will someday get to share the same experiences that my grandmother, mom and I have enjoyed in our lives,” she said.
Candi Edwards, the Whitfield County extension coordinator, said it’s been challenging over the last few years to balance shrinking resources with the growing demand for services. The Whitfield County office provides required restaurant safety training, day care certification, helps assisted living homes and schools with food nutrition, runs the Master Gardener program and offers local pesticide training.
BY THE NUMBERS* 20 — Percentage of service’s budget cut in last two years* 80 — Extension agent positions are unfilled* 240 — County agent positions remainingSource: UGA Cooperative Extension
Agents also oversee 4-H programs in 15 Whitfield County schools.
“There probably will be more cuts,” she said. “Everyone is asking you to do more with less.”
This month, Ms. Edwards and many other county agents have met with Cooperative Extension officials to brainstorm about the future of their programming and jobs. There has been discussion of no longer having agents in every county and moving to a regional model. They also talked about putting more responsibility on volunteers.
By the end of the summer, officials hope to have a plan to move forward.
“We won’t have a cookie-cutter approach for the whole state,” Mr. Tyson said. “We are debating a lot of different things.”
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