Scientists hope the increase in foreign demand for peanut products from Georgia will improve market prices and ease some of the financial stress on farmers. Tim Williams, a scientist with the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, says the Phillippines have expressed an interest in receiving a vitamin A fortified peanut butter product. Besides increasing the demand for peanuts, the peanut butter will provide a food source of vitamin A for children. "Developed a peanut butter that is fortified with vitamin A. This is now used widely in the Phillippines, forty percent of their market is fortified," (says) Tim Williams with the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. Williams and other university scientists are also working with researchers in Bulgaria in hopes of developing a market for peanuts and peanut products in that county, which could further increase exports for Georgia peanuts. John Harrell, University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, reporting from Tifton.

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For years many people expressed concern about the effects of timber harvest on the (Georgia's) wetlands. But everyone drew a blank when efforts were made to measure the effects. But an entomologist with the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Science has been conducting research with some interesting creatures that live in the wetlands in hopes of finding some answers. "I guess the one that people are most familiar with would be like mosquitoes are a wetland invertebrate, but there's a lot of small fly larvae and crustaceans," (says) Darold Batzer with the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, who has been conducting research with the invertebrates since the late-‘90s. So far, the experiments are in the early stages, and much more research must be conducted. But Batzer and other scientists are hopeful they can identify the environmental changes affected by timber harvest in these delicate ecosystems in Georgia. John Harrell, University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, reporting from Tifton

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For the past three growing seasons, drought and the lack of water kept cotton plants stressed out, despite many farmers best efforts at irrigation. But scientists with the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences are conducting experiments with different cotton varieties in hopes of learning how much water they need and how the amount of water affects each stage of growth. "But we are getting a better understanding of how individual plants respond to soil water, trying to understand how they regulate their use as soil water decreases, and how that might relate to productivity," (says) Hugh Earl with the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. Research on the cotton varieties is currently underway in greenhouses in Athens at the University of Georgia. But scientist will soon move their research to cotton fields so they can learn more about moisture needs of cotton. John Harrell, University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, reporting from Tifton.

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Low crop prices and extreme drought have made it tough on farmers in the state. But expected trade growth means longer-term projections look better for agriculture. Bill Givan, an agricultural economist with the University of Georgia Extension Service, says despite the positive long-range outlook, farmers will face some uncertainty this year, especially with fuel supplies and prices. "But of course the higher diesel prices has pulled up the price of natural gas and that right now is one of the biggest unknowns we're facing because we're having a cold winter not just in the South but across the nation, and natural gas use is quite high," (says) Bill Givan with the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, who adds higher natural gas prices could also cause an increase in certain fertilizer products. Givan goes on to say farmers don't have a lot of extra money now, but the encouraging trade news could help net farm income begin climbing in the year 2002. John Harrell, University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, reporting from Tifton.

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Several months ago the pesticide Dursban was lost as a home pest control product. Now a major maker of diazinon has announced plans to phase it out of the market. Paul Guillebeau, an entomologist with the University of Georgia Extension Service, says they plan to phase out the popular pesticide over the next four years. He adds the Environmental Protection Agency is assessing many chemicals now on the market as part of the implementation of the Food Quality Protection Act of 1996. "Now according to Food Quality Protection Act, food tolerances not only include the amount of pesticide that is on food, but also any other way that a child might be exposed to pesticides, where there is pesticide use around the home, in the garden, in the lawn, on a pet, etcetera," (says) Paul Guillebeau with the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. Pesticides are still on the market that fight lawn and turf pests. But since the familiar pesticides are being phased out, consumers will need to take some extra time to read labels when they select alternatives. John Harrell, University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, reporting from Tifton.

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