Tens of thousands of pumpkins will find new homes in the coming days, as people make fall and Halloween decorations. Terry Kelley, a horticulturist with the University of Georgia Extension Service, says we'll have plenty of pumpkins to choose from this year. But, he adds, you should not go shopping for pumpkins until you find out how many you need and what you want. When you get to the market, evaluate the color first. The better ones have a certain look. "Most pumpkins that you look at are going to be mature. They're going to have a dull sheen to the outside," said Terry Kelley with the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. Consumers should stay away from certain pumpkins that have blemishes on the outside with cracks that go a little bit deep into the rind of the pumpkin. Disease could spread quickly, rotting the pumpkin with it lasting only a few days instead of a few weeks. John Harrell, University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, reporting from Tifton.

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Most of the state's hog farmers are still trying to recover from the record low market prices common during the mid to late-‘90s. John McKissick, an agricultural economist with the University of Georgia Extension Service, says market prices have hovered around the mid-40's for most of the year 2000. He adds when you weigh several factors, these prices are not too bad. "And that doesn't sound like a very good price but if you look at it relative to the cost of corn for instance, it really does indicate that we've had a profitable situation for most producers through most of this year," says John McKissick with the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, who expects prices to change little the remainder of this year and the first part of next year. Prices could fall during the summer of 2001, since hog numbers are expected to increase, which means more pork entering the market. John Harrell, University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, reporting from Tifton.

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Since the boll weevil was knocked out of cotton fields, and Bt cotton resistant to the tobacco budworm was introduced, few insecticide sprays are needed to control insect pests. But an entomologist with the University of Georgia Extension Service says stink bugs have taken advantage of this reduction in pesticides. "As a whole, stink bugs are very susceptible to many of our commonly used insecticides such as pyretheroids. In the absence of these sprays stink bugs are left in the field to multiply and ultimately cause crop damage," says Phillip Roberts with the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. University scientists developed techniques to monitor stink bug numbers to find the population level that would cause economic damage if left uncontrolled. They also devised a method to monitor the amount of damage on a sample of bolls to determine when to treat for stink bugs. The research found using a damage threshold of twenty percent would provide adequate protection for cotton to prevent economic losses. John Harrell, University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, reporting from Tifton.

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Some people give fall gardening the cold shoulder because of falling temperatures and less sunlight. But a horticulturist with the University of Georgia Extension Service says there are vegetables you can grow in a fall garden that are not afraid of cold weather. "There's a number of crops that don't mind the cold weather, lettuce will take a little bit of cold weather. Course the cabbage and cale and collards and turnips and mustard will stand a lot more cold weather," says Wayne McLaurin with the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. If you grow beans, cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers, and other tender crops in your fall gardens, you will need to protect them from frost damage. So when a frost warning is issued, cover the tender plants with blankets, tarpaulins or polyethelene plastic. Remove the covering as soon as the weather warms and the danger of frost passes. John Harrell, University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, reporting from Tifton.

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The sight of jack-o-lanterns and other spooky decorations are a reminder Halloween and trick-or treating will soon be here. Don Bower, a human development specialist with the University of Georgia Extension Service, says it takes a team effort among families to make Halloween trick-or-treating safe. This means parents should accompany their young children when they go trick-or-treating. "Oh, we always recommend, particular with preschoolers, that a parent or at least a teenage sibling accompany the youngsters when they're going out," says Don Bower with the College of Family and Consumer Sciences. Bower also recommends parents take their children trick-or-treating in a neighborhood the children are familiar with and know most of the residents. Make sure the costumes have reflector tape or light coloring so motorists can easily see them. If trick-or-treaters come to your door, consider giving colorful pencils or another treat other than gum and candy that contains a lot of sugar.

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