(Macon) Commissioner Gary W. Black, along with Georgia Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall and House Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Committee Chairman Tom McCall, today announced that the Georgia Department of Agriculture would begin taking applications for the Georgia Agriculture Tax Exemption. The Georgia Agriculture Tax Exemption (GATE) is a new program created by Georgia HB386, which offers qualified agriculture producers a sales tax exemption on agricultural equipment and production inputs. This program will replace the Agricultural Certificate of Exemption (ST-A1) form effective January 1, 2013. Applications are available online at agr.georgia.gov beginning November 15. There is $20 fee for online applicants and a $25 fee for all applications mailed in.