The liquidity provided by the government purchasing banks’ “toxic” loans and guaranteeing loans so that banks can again lend to other banks will provide liquidity in the market, Chambliss said.

“We need the liquidity issue and credit to open,” he said. “We’re going to do everything we can for that money to be available for farmers.”

U.S. Rep. Sanford Bishop, D-Albany, who also attended the Tuesday luncheon, said that he reluctantly voted for the plan because he felt it was important to the country’s financial health.

“I hate we were in a position where we had to do something,” he said. “We could not afford to do nothing. That was bitter medicine, but that was medicine we had to take.”

The intent of the rescue plan was to generate a credit influx that will help consumers purchasing homes and vehicles, businesses such as car dealerships that depend on those customers having credit, and farmers, Bishop said.

“You’ve got individuals who can’t buy cars because they can’t get credit. You’ve got small businesses,” said Bishop, who represented Colquitt County until 2006 and whose district still includes Brooks, Mitchell and Thomas counties and a portion of Worth County. “You’ve got students and parents with student loans, and that money is drying up.”

Legislation passed by Congress includes oversight and safeguards, including a bipartisan panel that will review implementation, Bishop said.

“We want to do everything we can to get the economy on track,” he said.

Tim Bescher, an organic farmer whose small White County, Ga., operation includes cut flowers, vegetables and herbs, said he is concerned about the economy although he does not depend on credit.

“Watch out, it’s coming,” he said. “It’s exciting times we’re living in. I don’t do credit; we work it out as we go. My mamma didn’t raise no fools.”