The cold winter has many cattlemen in Georgia worried, as they scramble to find enough food for their animals. Some say it's the toughest year they've ever seen. The cold weather killed a lot of pasture grass that cattle farmers were counting on to feed their cows during the winter. Robert Stewart, an animal scientist with the University of Georgia Extension Service, says cattlemen should look hard at other feed sources. "We've got things available like brewers grain, soy hulls, citrus pulp, broiler litter corn blute and feed and lots of others. Most are priced at or near the cost of hay," (says) Robert Stewart with the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. Stewart advises cattle farmers to do all they can to keep their cows off their winter annuals so the leaves can make full use of sunlight and recover quicker, so the grass can put on some growth. John Harrell, University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, reporting from Tifton.

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Many people are still struggling with their waistlines, as they try to get rid of those extra pounds from the Christmas holidays. Erica Aspinwall, a research assistant with the University of Georgia Extension Service, says there are some tasty low-calorie choices your sweetheart will love to receive on Valentine's Day. "Things like liquorice, and sweet tarts, those types of things, or you can even get creative and you can fix your own low-calorie cookies or chocolate pudding if you really want chocolate made with skim milk," (says) Erica Aspinwall with the College of Family and Consumer Sciences, who adds fruit baskets already prepared would also make a good low-calorie Valentine's present. If your sweetheart is on a diet, but still wants chocolate candy, smaller boxes are available that feature smaller portions, of the candy, and also fewer calories. John Harrell, University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, reporting from Tifton.

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Many Georgian's are carrying a lot of debt on their shoulders, because they let their credit cards get swiped too many times when purchasing holiday gifts. Michael Rupured, a financial management specialist with the University of Georgia Extension Service, says the interest rates make it harder to get completely out of debt, as long as you have a balance to pay. "You know with interest rates, while they have gone down recently, they're still pretty high, you know if you've got a 9 percent card that's very good, they run all the way up to 21 percent, that's quite a lot of money," (says) Michael Rupered with the College of Family and Consumer Sciences. To get out of debt, stop using those credit cards when you make purchases. If you feel you must keep one credit card, leave the card at home in a safe place, and use it only for travel and emergencies. Then cut up the other credit cards, and make arrangements with the financial institutions to close out the accounts. John Harrell, University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, reporting from Tifton.

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The Consumer Price Index for foods increased 2.3 percent in the year 2000. John McKissick, an agricultural economist with the University of Georgia Extension Service, says shoppers will once again notice only a slight increase in most food prices this year. "Because of the large supplies of most food stocks, even rising energy prices aren't going to cause food prices to go up by much more than 1 to 2 percent overall for the year, which will be well below the overall rate of inflation of about 3 percent or so for the year," (says) John McKissick with the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences A strong economy will continue to cause demand to be high for meat products. Large meat supplies should limit gains to 3 or 4 percent in 2001. Prices for fresh fruits and vegetables should increase only 2 or 3 percent in 2001, but could go slightly higher, depending on the full impact of freeze damage in Florida. John Harrell, University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, reporting from Tifton.

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Since 1992, a Georgia tax program called Conservation Use Valuation has been in effect. But an agricultural economist with the University of Georgia Extension Service says Georgians have been slow to respond to this nine-year program. He adds several types of environmentally sensitive land will qualify for this tax program. "They could be steep mountain lands, wetlands or land that's in a 100-year flood plains, or habitats that contain endangered or threatened species of plants or animals," (says) Coleman Dangerfield with the Warnell School of Forest Resources, who adds land that has significant ground water recharge areas, and portions of undeveloped barrier islands along the coast could also qualify. Under the Conservation Use Valuation Program, qualified landowners sign a ten-year agreement, in which they must keep environmentally sensitive land in its natural condition for 10 years. John Harrell, University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, reporting from Tifton.

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