Just the mention of the possibility of regulating water used by farmers causes concern, but a major piece of information could help make farmers and non-farmers agree about future water use, especially water of the Flint River. Now some farmers don't mind is someone knows all about the many irrigation systems they manage. Agricultural Scientists with the University of Georgia's College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, located about fifty miles away, will know about every gallon of water pumped, the time the water gets pumped, and how long the system worked. "That's exactly what we're after is trying to find the information that is very poorly understood right now." Jim Hook with the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. The scientists will monitor 200 irrigation systems in southwest Georgia, with all those farmers volunteering to participate. State regulators won't know the identities of the systems, just the amount of water used and when. The University scientists believe they can have that critical bit of scientific information in about two years. John Harrell, University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, reporting from Tifton.

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Many babies are born each year with birth defects from unknown origins. But scientists with the University of Georgia's College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences are using a tissue culture system to test the toxicity of chemicals to cells as they develop. The tissue comes from chick embryos because the cells follow the same developmental processes in both chicks and humans. "A lot more information about how these birth defects occur, and understanding how they occur, even in a tissue culture system like ours can give us some really good clues as to how it might happen in a real developing human embryo." That was Mary Alice Smith with the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences . Research with the system will help determine the processes cells must undergo to develop into normal cartilage. Later, chemicals can be screened for their ability to disrupt these normal processes and possibly result in birth defects. John Harrell, University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences reporting from Tifton.

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The Center for Disease Control and Prevention estimates there are 100,000 cases of food borne illness each year, thanks to E-coli pathogens. But scientists with the University of Georgia's College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences have found there are some good bacteria that will attack and fight the bacteria that cause E-coli. They also found that food is not the sole vehicle that carries the E-coli pathogens that make us sick. "We have some good E-coli that can actually go to battle with the bad E-coli that you sometimes find in cattle, and when you feed them to cattle they'll actually out compete or out grow these bad e-coli inside the animal, and it will, in most animals eliminate these types of E-coli that make us sick." That was Mike Doyle with the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, who adds animals like cattle, goats, deer, and sheep all carry the E-coli pathogens. Visits to farms and petting zoos have been linked to outbreaks of E-coli illnesses because some of the children did not wash their hands. John Harrell, University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, reporting from Tifton.

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For years sweet potatoes have flavored many a meal in the South. Most of us have enjoyed pies, souffle's, and casseroles with sweet potatoes baked in. But that sweet taste we love has been a major stumbling block to its expansion around the world. But scientists with the University of Georgia's College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences have been working to breed a non sweet version of the crop. "This new one does taste sort of like an Irish potato, and that is what a lot of the world wants is something Irish potato type flavor, and it's much blander and people eat a lot more of it than they do something that's real real sweet." Wayne McLaurin with the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. The research involved crossing sweet potato varieties in an attempt to knock out the enzyme that creates such a sweet taste. They finally were able to breed a variety that was almost identical to a white potato in flavor, texture, and even appearance. If the new sweet potato is well received by foreign countries, it could be good news for Georgia farmers, who could expand production if markets swell. John Harrell, University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, reporting from Tifton.

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As pecan trees awaken from their long winters nap, they begin to put on growth. But producers must provide them some food by applying fertilizer to the trees. Tom Crocker, a Horticulturist with the University of Georgia Extension Service says most trees will probably need some nitrogen. "Especially nitrogen is the one because it leaches so that we don't recycle a tremendous amount of nitrogen. So that's the one we want to get back there every March." Tom Crocker with the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, who adds trees that don't receive fertilizer this year will have problems putting on growth in two or three years. The University scientist advises pecan producers to take soil samples, so they won't have to play a guessing game when trying to decide which fertilizer products to apply. John Harrell, University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences reporting from Tifton.

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