The cold weather was needed to slow down growth in the top of small grain plants, especially for this year's crop after unusual warm conditions in late November and most of December. Dewey Lee, an Agronomist with the University of Georgia Extension Service says cold weather helps put the chill on other problems. "It'll reduce our insect population, the aphid population, that typically vectors barley yellow dwarf virus. Also, tends to alleviate any type of diseases that might have gotten started in the plant." Dewey Lee with the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. The university scientist goes on to say small grain crops can withstand cold temperatures through most of the winter, up until mid-March, after the crop enters the reproductive phase of growth. If a late winter or early spring cold smap moves in with a significant freeze, the chill could damage small grains and reduce yields. John Harrell, University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, reporting from Tifton.

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According to data from the survey, 70,000,000 people in the United States, or 7.2 percent of the population suffer from asthma. Jorge Atiles, a Housing and Environment Specialist with the University of Georgia Extension Service says it's important to make people aware of elements inside a house that could trigger an asthma attack. "You know pollen, grass, cockroaches, animal dander like pet dander, from cats, dogs, and birds, mice and rats, the droppings of these rats will also contribute to asthma attacks." That was Jorge Atiles with the College of Family and Consumer Sciences, who adds dust mite inside a home could also help bring on an asthma attack. The survey also indicated rates of asthma were consistently higher among women. In Georgia the rate of asthma was7.5 percent among women, and 4.8 percent among men. John Harrell, University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, reporting from Tifton.

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Scientific research indicates early childhood experiences lay the foundation for intelligence, emotional health, and moral development in school-aged children. The report also states the United States is too focused on preparing children for school, and not showing much concern about preparing kids for life. Libby Jackson, a Project Coordinator with the University of Georgia Extension Service says children that are taught emotional skills by adults are better prepared to deal with tough challenges they will face as they grow up and become adults. "Emotional intelligence is teaching children how to cope with problems, how to deal with anger, how to share, how to cooperate which are really important for kids to turn around and use." Libby Jackson with the College of Family and Consumer Sciences. The research also shows emotional, social, and moral development can make a positive difference in the lives of children at risk, those in poverty, those with mental illness, and children that must deal with community violence. John Harrell, University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, reporting from Tifton.

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A lot of people do get shocked when they step on the scales in January and discover those extra pounds they gained during the holidays. But a Nutrition Specialist with the University of Georgia Extension Service says don't rush into fad diets and try to lose those pounds quickly. She adds losing weight slowly is the best way to keep those pounds from coming back. "In fact the new the new recommendation is no more than a half pound to a pound a week. But those people who lose more slowly do seem to have a better chance of maintaining the weight loss once they do get it off." That was Connie Crawley with the College of Family and Consumer Sciences. The university scientist goes on to say resist the temptation to skip meals. Instead, go back to your normal, healthy eating habits, which include three moderate meals a day, and allow time to rebalance your diet. After a week or more you can decide what little things need to be done to lose those holiday pounds. John Harrell, University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, reporting from Tifton.

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Mother Nature started off 2002 by putting most of Georgia under a blanket of white. North and Central Georgia received several inches of snow, and even parts of South Georgia received a light dusting. Unfortunately, snow and ice sometimes leave behind damage to trees. David Dickens, a Forester with the University of Georgia Extension Service says there's a good chance young pine trees bent over from the ice will straighten up by themselves, so leave them alone. "Many cases they will often recover during the course of the next growing season, what I mean by recovering is they will go from a bent over state to over the course of the next growing season they will often right themselves back up and continue to grow in a fairly straight manner." David Dickens with the Warnell School of Forest Resources, who adds older pine trees that have not straightened up after a year should be removed. Pine limbs or trees too much ice caused to snap off should be cleaned up, since these dead limbs or trees could cause an increase in pine bark beetles this summer. John Harrell, University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, reporting from Tifton.

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