Many southerners love muscadine grapes, but the grapes are available only four weeks out of the year. But that has changed because the Charles Cowart family in southwest Georgia produces a product that is tasty and sweet. Last year, the Cowarts decided to try bottling and selling their own non-alcoholic muscadine grape juice. Gerard Krewer, a horticulturist with the University of Georgia Extension Service, says there may be a potential for a big market. "Well there's about 65 million people who live in the South, and not all of them like muscadines, but quite a few of them do. So, it should be a fairly large market," (says) Gerard Krewer with the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. The Cowart family have been growing muscadine grapes for 20 years in Callhoun County. But last year market prices started a slow decline. Mrs. Cowart then remembered tasting bottled muscadine grape juice at a trade show and thought the idea would help them make a profit. John Harrell, University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, reporting from Tifton.

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Despite having to battle drought conditions and low crop prices, farmers now have 2001 on their mind. Many are checking into the possibility of renting land to grow some of next year's crops. Bill Givan, an agricultural economist with the University of Georgia Extension Service, says it's important to answer several questions before renting land. "Look at how much money you think you're going to get, look at what you think will be your cash costs, and then of course what is left over is the money that you have to pay your land rent, your farm overhead, your management cost, and any profit that you have," (says) Bill Givan with the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. Givan also suggests the person renting the land and the landlord get together and discuss rental rates, then agree on an equitable rate for the land. John Harrell, University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, reporting from Tifton.

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The first sign of a problem usually occurs when a person starts making preparations for a warm, roaring fire, only to find water standing in the fireplace. Jorge Atiles, a housing specialist with the University of Georgia Extension Service, says the location of many chimney leaks is where the metal that surrounds the base of the chimney, called flashing, meets the roof. "Now with the changes of temperatures and with wear and tear after many years, those flashing pieces will deteriorate and you will get water infiltration through them, so it is good to check those to see if the flashing is faulty." That was Jorge Atiles with the College of Family and Consumer Sciences, who adds installing a hood can prevent water from coming in through the top of the chimney. If your chimney has a metal or concrete liner, check it and make sure it is in good shape. If water is leaking through the liner, and it needs to be repaired or replaced, let a professional chimney sweep or repairman do the work. John Harrell, University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, reporting from Tifton.

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For the past two winters, Georgia's peach growers have sweated out mild temperatures, hoping their peaches would receive the chill hours they needed. But thanks to cold weather in late November and early December, this year's peach crop is receiving plenty of chill hours. A scientist with the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences says if we have a normal, cold winter, the peach trees would receive their required chill hours early and start blooming a few days early. "What we are concerned about however is that the peach crop could come along very early in the spring, that is once they've achieved enough chill hours as soon as we get some warm weather, the flowers could come on out," (says) Kathy Taylor with the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, who adds research is being conducted with soybean oil to find if the oil can be used to delay blooming. Taylor also advises growers to go ahead and apply dormant oil on schedule, so the blooms will be protected from insects this spring. John Harrell, University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, reporting from Tifton.

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Scientists have known for years that peanuts and pecans are high in Vitamin E and folic acid, which have several health benefits. But they recently found these nuts contain high levels of plant sterols. Ron Eitenmiller, a food scientist with the University of Georgia, says plant sterols can help lower cholesterol and reduce coronary heart disease. "When you ingest them fairly closely to when you're ingesting high cholesterol foods, they will actually inhibit the absorption of cholesterol and then that tends to cut down on cholesterol buildup in the body," (says) Ron Eitenmiller with the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. Despite the numerous health benefits, people will need to eat peanuts and pecans in moderation, since they pack a high amount of calories inside their shells. John Harrell, University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, reporting from Tifton.

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