New ag agent is settling into new post here

Grady County has a new agriculture agent with the University of Georgia Extension, and he’s a Southwest Georgia native. Cale Cloud is originally from Seminole County and most recently worked in Mitchell County for U.G.A. Extension as the Southwest District Water Agent.

Cloud, 29, started in Cairo on March 1, and says this is the job he has wanted.

“I’m super excited about it. I feel like this is a good opportunity for me. I enjoy helping people. That’s a big part of Extension, helping farmers and the community and being an unbiased resource for people,” Cloud says.

The new agent says he has spent the last few weeks getting out and meeting people, and also helping homeowners and farmers with questions.

“We have a team of specialists with Extension who are good resources, and it’s unbiased information. We don’t put one company on a pedestal over another, they’re all equal,” explains Cloud.

He also planted a corn variety trial Monday and is continuing a pepper weevil trapping project, both to collect valuable information for the U.G.A. specialists.

Cloud says after graduating from high school in Seminole County, he worked on the family farm, then went to Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College and graduated with a bachelor’s degree diversified agriculture with a concentration in general agriculture in 2016. He’s currently studying for his master’s degree in plant protection and pest management from U.G.A. with plans to graduate this summer.

After earning his bachelor’s degree, Cloud worked as a farm crew manager in Camilla for one year, then three months as a purchasing manager with Southern Valley in Norman Park, and then became a research technician at U.G.A.’s Stripling Irrigation Research Park in Camilla before becoming the Southwest district water agent.

According to his resume, Cloud holds a commercial pesticide applicator license, and has F.F.A. Greenhand, Discovery, State and American degrees.

Cloud replaces Ty Torrance who worked as Grady County’s ag. agent from October 2017 to October 2020. Torrance accepted a new extension position last fall to work in Tift, Worth and Colquitt counties.

Cloud and his wife, Shelby, reside in Moultrie.