Many people thought the good old days of fried chicken, fried fish and fat back were just fine. But in Hancock County in central Georgia, the high-fat diet took a deadly toll. Statistics reveal deaths due to heart attacks rose from one in five in 1991 to one in three today. Jeannette Tillman, a county extension agent in Hancock County, saw a lot of her friends and neighbors die from heart disease. "Heart attack and heart related diseases are the leading cause of death. In fact we have 28 percent of deaths related to heart disease, and this has increased since 1991 we had 18 percent of the deaths related to heart disease, so this is significant and I want to do something to make a difference." (says) Jeanette Tillman with the University of Georgia College of Family and Consumer Sciences. In essence Tillman became the county's nutritionist out of necessity, taking her exhibits to about 15 health fairs a year, literally helping thousands of people live better and longer lives. John Harrell, University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, reporting from Tifton.

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As the temperatures warm under the spring sun, many of the states home gardeners are looking forward to enjoying some tasty vegetables from their spring garden. But a horticulturist with the University of Georgia Extension Service says you can sweeten up your home garden by growing fruits, especially several varieties of blueberries and muscadine grapes. He adds these fruits can be grown in most areas of the state. "The only thing is muscadines are not well adapted to the high mountain area. It's a little too cold. But these blueberry varieties can be grown statewide. We have them all the way down on the Florida line all the way up into the high mountains in places like Blairsville, and they do very very well," (says ) Gerard Krewer with the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. The university scientist also has some sweet news for Georgian's that love blackberries. Two new varieties developed in Arkansas can be grown in Georgia. Some positive features of the new varieties include less problems with thorns and larger blackberries. John Harrell, University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, reporting from Tifton.

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College scientists have been conducting research with the new sugar product called xylitol for about a year. Jim Kastner, a scientist with the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, says the research involves extracting the alternative sweetener from some interesting Georgia by-products. "Such as cottonseed hulls, streams from pulp mills that contain sugars and then convert those into a natural sweetener called xylitol using microorganisms," (says) Jim Kastner with the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, who adds xylitol will not cause cavities in teeth and actually fights to prevent them. It's also safer for people with diabetes because it doesn't cause an insulin response. The new sweetener could also help farmers and the timber industry in the state, since the demand for cottonseed, soybean hulls, along with pulp and paper waste could increase. John Harrell, University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, reporting from Tifton.

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Cotton prices recently fell to 15- year lows, briefly dropping below 50 cents a pound. This means farmers will need to grow their 2001 cotton crop as cheaply as possible. Steve Brown, an agronomist with the University of Georgia Extension Service, says farmers face a challenge, since production costs continue to rise. "Nitrogen prices are up extremely high, maybe 30 or 40 percent over what they were a year ago. Of course equipment costs has continued to go up over the years, fuel costs is up," (says) Steve Brown with the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. With nitrogen costs up, farmers should use only what they need and make every effort to avoid wasteful applications. Resist the temptation to use miracle products that promise good results with little effort. They won't work, and these products will end up increasing your expenses. Scout cotton fields closely for stink bugs in late July and August, so this insect pest won't take over a field and reduce yields. John Harrell, University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, reporting from Tifton.

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Most of the state received above normal rainfall during March, the first month of above average rainfall in quite some time. David Stooksbury, the state climatologist and professor of engineering at the University of Georgia, says the rains helped fill many farm ponds in the state. We also have improved soil moisture conditions in fields and pastures. But some areas of the state are still well below normal in rainfall for the year. "As Georgia enters the peak of the growing season, it appears that once again residents of metropolitan Atlanta will have to conserve water, and that outdoor watering will be limited across the region, because of the low levels of Lake Lanier," (says) David Stooksbury with the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. Despite improved soil moisture conditions, the state needs normal rainfall amounts during April, since evaporation rates increase during May, which will cause soils to dry out quickly. John Harrell, University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, reporting from Tifton.

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