It appears the drought will continue into it's fourth year, unless something unlikely happens, and happens soon. Pam Knox, the Assistant State Climatologist at the University of Georgia says the state has once again missed a critical period for rainfall. "And that's because you really need to have a lot of rain, this is our critical period for recharging the subsoil moisture, and we're just not getting it." Pam Knox with the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. Georgia needs an average of eight inches of rain between now and the end of March, and it looks unlikely that much rain will fall. Weather records show that has happened only six times in the past 106 years. The Assistant State Climatologist adds heavy thunderstorms that sometimes occur in late February and March help some, but the rain comes so quickly that it washes off, without recharging the underground water supply. John Harrell, University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, reporting from Tifton.

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Many people purchase clam-style indoor electric grills because they cook food quickly, and reduce the fat content of the food. But a Food Scientist with the University of Georgia's College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences says his research has found these grills also kill food pathogens that could make you sick. "And what we were looking at, looking to see if they would kill certain pathogens like listeria, E.coli 5.7, and found that both cookers do a good job of killing organisms." Mark Harrison with the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. When cooking food in a clam-style indoor grill it must be cooked at the proper cooking temperature to kill pathogens that cause food-borne illnesses. So a clam-styll indoor electric grill in your home will cook food quicker, and you don't have to worry about the finished product making you sick. John Harrell, University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, reporting from Tifton

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Every year some farmers suffer yield losses because they got in a rush and planted their corn too early. Dewey Lee, an Agronomist with the University of Georgia Extension Service says a late winter or early spring freeze could cause serious damage to corn planted too early. "And this could easily expose the newly emerging corn plants to freezing temperatures if a late freeze were to occur. Now corn can withstand frost, however I've seen our plants freeze an inch deep in early March which kills the growing point and then causes severe stand loss." Dewey Lee with the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. The University scientist adds farmers should hold off planting early corn until the soil temperature reaches an average of fifty five degrees at the two to three inch depth. Monitor weather forecasts closely, and begin planting if warm, sunny conditions are predicted for several days. John Harrell, University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, reporting from Tifton.

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Fungi are the most economically important group of plant pathogens, and are responsible for huge annual losses of food and fiber. In some crops fungi are sometimes responsible for yield losses exceeding twenty five percent. But scientists with the University of Georgia's College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences are working to get the upper hand of these pathogens. "So by understanding better how fungi cause disease we may be able to identify safer targets for control, where we can use less toxic compounds or modify plants so that they can resist fungi in a more effective chemical free manner." That was Scott Gold with the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. The University scientist have identified a number of pathogen genes that are required for the disease to complete its cycle. Some of these genes appear to play a significant role in the development of all fungal diseases, including those that affect humans. More research is planned using molecular genetics to find new methods of disease control and solve this expensive problem. John Harrell, University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, reporting from Tifton.

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University Agricultural Economists believe there's a good chance that the commodity prices of corn, wheat, soybeans, and cotton will all start with ‘3 later this year. While this would be good news for corn and wheat farmers, soybean and cotton farmers would not be celebrating, since prices for those commodities would take a sharp drop. George Shumaker, and Agricultural Economist with the University of Georgia Extension Service says several factors should contribute to lower soybean market prices. "We have a huge crop of soybeans coming out of South America and all expectations are that the American growers are going to expand acreage as well. That's going to continue the very large supplies both domestically and across the world of soybeans." George Shumaker with the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. On the positive side, corn farmers haven't seen market prices at or above $3.00 in quite some time. It would take reduced acreage and unfavorable weather in the corn belt for prices to reach the three dollar level. Wheat prices should have no trouble rising above $3.00, since prices are currently around $2.89 per bushel, and the planted acreage is down. John Harrell, University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, reporting from Tifton.

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