It Ain’t Hay--but Farmers of Georgia Will Return Favor

Georgia farmers, who received donations of hay from the Midwest during the summer drought, are now raising money to help Illinois farmers who were hurt by flooding.

So far, the effort in Upson County has brought in $1,700. The funds will be used to buy seed and to repair washed-out and partially broken levees, organizers said.

“It’s an opportunity for some of the Georgia farmers who got hay from the Midwest during the hot, dry days of summer to repay a big favor,” said Melvin Davis, director of the central district of the Georgia Extension Service.

Ed Shumate, who runs a beef slaughtering and processing plant in Upson County, said he began the fund drive after he saw reports about the recent floods in Illinois on television news.

“I just wanted to help the people who were getting flooded out,” he said.