The Georgia Farm Bureau’s 72nd annual convention is underway on Jekyll Island.

Governor-elect Nathan Deal told the group Monday he plans to cut state spending to keep within the state’s shrinking state budget.

The agriculture industry – the state’s largest—receives generous tax exemptions from the state.

The head of a commission tasked with overhauling Georgia’s tax code promised it would recommend keeping tax breaks for the agriculture industry.

It’s up to lawmakers to accept or reject the commission’s findings.

Deal said his transition team was looking to eliminate duplicated state government functions and other waste.

He said the examination would not be complete by the time he takes office next month and would continue during his new administration.

Tags: Republican, Nathan Deal, agriculture, tax, Jekyll Island, farmer