Georgia Commissioner of Agriculture Tommy Irvin, left, talks with Georgia Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle Wednesday at the annual meeting of the Georgia Poultry Improvement Association at the Gainesville Civic Center. Cagle was the guest speaker at the event.

Cagle was the keynote speaker for the 71st annual meeting of the Georgia Poultry Improvement Association at the Gainesville Civic Center. The association oversees the Georgia Poultry Laboratory Network.

"We truly are the capital of the South," Cagle said. "Not only are we the poultry capital of the world, right here in Georgia, but agri-business is important. It's always been important to me."

Cagle said the state has been ahead of the curve in technology at laboratories like the poultry lab in Oakwood.

"We invest our money through the labs and insure that safety exists," Cagle said. "When we look at a worldwide stage and we see what's happening in Mississippi in regards to catfish farmers. The Chinese have penetrated that market and safety is not a part of their strategy."

Until about eight years ago, the U.S. catfish business was booming. Most of the production was located in the Mississippi Delta. Less expensive imports from Asia pushed prices down and put some farmers out of business.