Wayne Johnson believes he can help all the farmers and ranchers operating in Macon, Albany, Columbus and 30 counties in Middle and Southwest Georgia.

“When I first started doing my homework on the state of farming in the 2nd District, one of the first people I talked with was Corey Lea of the Cowtown Foundation,” said Johnson, who farmed cattle at one point in his 40-year career in business. “Corey shared with me the troubles small Black farmers and ranchers were having here and across the South.”

Johnson is working hard to unseat 32-year, career politician Sanford Bishop in the race for Georgia’s 2nd District Congressional seat in November General Election.

“The struggles of farmers, including Black farmers and ranchers, have occurred while Bishop sits on two powerful agriculture committees in the U.S. House of Representatives,” said Johnson. “After decades in the House, Bishop has lost touch with all farmers in the 2nd Congressional District.”

Johnson said there is a real undertaking enabled by the United States Department of Agriculture to squeeze Black farmers, and all small farmers, out of their land. They are using outstanding loans and accelerating payments in order to force the farmers to sell their land.

“When I get to Washington, I will go the USDA offices, meet with leadership and get to the bottom of why the Federal government wants to force farmers to do something they do not want to do,” said Johnson.

Johnson said one of the most important things he can do is to promote farm-to-table in the protein sector of South Georgia farms. Johnson believes the “fast freezing” technology can be deployed and cause farmers to dramatically increase the revenue to the farm.

“If you are a small farmer with 40 head of cattle and you take them to the sale barn, you might clear $1,000 per head,” said Johnson. “If you have fast freezing capability, that price will be three to four times higher.”

Fast freezing technology used to cost more than half a million dollars to install a plant, but Johnson says today that you can have a micro-plant for $50,000.