Farmers are expected to plant about 480,000 acres of peanuts this year, a two percent reduction from the 2000 peanut crop. John Baldwin, an Agronomist with the University of Georgia Extension Service says farmers should make sure their equipment is ready to hit the field when the time arrives for planting. "Other things get your planters all calibrated, all greased up ready to go particularly check your planter plates on your sprayers get all your nozzel tips uniform and calibrated properly." John Baldwin with the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. The University scientist goes on to remind growers to do all they can to reduce the threat of tomato spotted wilt in their fields. Farmers should get familiar with the tomato spotted wilt index, then use it to develop a point system for their peanut fields. John Harrell, University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences reporting from Tifton.

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Every year leg disorders in growing broilers cause a significant loss in the poultry industry. The birds suffer from rickets and other skeletal disorders that affect their bones. Hardy Edwards, a Scientist with the University of Georgia's College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences says one of the factors that cause weak bones is the birds don't get enough vitamin D, because they get very little light from the sun. "See these chickens don't get sunshine anymore. When we used to have these curtained houses they'd get a little sunshine that would come in there, so you would get some ultra-violet light you've got to have ultra-violet light for the animal, the chicken, or for you and I to produce vitamin D." That was Hardy Edwards with the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. The University scientist has been concentrating his research on the diet of chickens. Results have shown if the birds have the proper amounts of vitamin D, along with calcium and phosphorus, these bone disorders in poultry can be greatly reduced. John Harrell, University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, reporting from Tifton.

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For many farmers, the 2001 growing season is beginning on a dismal note. Market prices for most crops remain at unprofitable levels. But farmers are also facing higher prices for most fertilizer products. Glen Harris, an Agronomist with the University of Georgia Extension Service says don't overlook the importance of lime. "But there's no doubt that if you don't have a good PH, you're really not getting the most out of your fertilizer dollar. So you need to spend that money on the lime." Glen Harris with the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. When trying to decide what to cut, farmers should make sure they apply the specific fertilizer products certain crops must have, but apply only the required rates to reduce expenses. John Harrell, University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, reporting from Tifton.

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Many types of fresh tomatoes turn off the taste buds of a lot of consumers. So, scientists with the University of Georgia's College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences have been conducting research, looking for ways to manipulate genes to modify several tomatoes. The research also involves learning what consumers really want for flavor in a tomato. "And what we're looking at is, how does the consumer define tomato flavor, and how can we better deliver that to the consumers by understanding all the way from the breeding on through the deliver system to the consumer." That was Rob Shewfelt with the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. The research, along with results from a supermarket survey helped identify four consumer concerns regarding tomato flavor. These include sweetness, ripeness on the vine, tart, and sweet/tart. John Harrell, University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, reporting from Tifton.

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Temperatures ranged from the low to mid thirties in most of the counties that grow blueberries in Southeast Georgia on the coldest night of the unseasonable chill. Mike Bruorton, County Extension Agent in Clinch County, says the main concern was with rabbiteye blueberries. "We were real concerned about the cold temperatures as far as rabbiteyes because most rabbiteye varieties are not frost protected and at the mercy of the weather, but my assessment in going out and looking today it looks real good compared to what could have happened." Mike Bruorton with the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, who adds during a late season cold snap, blueberry growers spend several sleepless nights, checking the temperature and the wind speed. Growers also used overhead irrigation to apply water to protect their blueberries from the mid-April cold snap. John Harrell, University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, reporting from Tifton.

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