In 1996 the Food Quality Protection Act required the Environmental Protection Agency to study the cumulative effect of pesticides on humans. Since the study began, many pesticides, especially those containing organophospates have been taken off the market. Jorge Atiles, a Housing and Environment Specialist with the University of Georgia Extension Service says there are concerns children could suffer serious health problems from some of these pesticides. "Because they have found a link between brain development, parkinson's disease, and nerve injuries in children and other frail populations and they have tied those to pesticide use." That was Jorge Atiles with the College of Family and Consumer Sciences. The study considered pesticide exposure from food, households, and drinking water. The EPA and others continue to stress the overall food supply is safe in Georgia and the Nation. The EPA is scheduled to complete its final report on pesticide risks next year. John Harrell, University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, reporting from Tifton.

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Georgia introduced the Conservation Use Valuation taxation program ten years ago. This property is assessed at forty percent of the current-use value. Bob Izlar, a Forester with the University of Georgia Extension Service says this favorable tax treatment is designed to reduce the pressure on property owners to convert agricultural or forest land to residential or commercial. "And it says, we're going to tax you on the productive capability of your land, either to raise agricultural crops or to raise forest crops, and that's broken down into various soil classes." Bob Izlar with the Warnel School of Forest Resources. In return for the favorable tax treatment, a property owner must keep the land undeveloped in a qualifying use for ten years. Owners who breach their Conservation Use Valuation covenant must pay back twice the savings they have received. John Harrell, University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, reporting from Tifton.

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For years people used their eyes on birdwatching trips to study and learn more about birds. But in 1999 a county agent in Heard County, Georgia developed a curriculum to teach homeowners the basic needs of wild birds, so they could attract birds to their home. The training would also teach people to identify birds by the sounds they make, as they learn by listening. "I have recorded sounds of about twenty or probably about thirty birds that are common to Georgia's cities and towns, and what I do is teach the audience how to identify the birds by playing these recorded sounds and then using demonics to help them remember what the bird sounds like." That was Mike Isbell with the University of Georgia's College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. The training on bird listening continues to increase in popularity in West Central Georgia. Requests have been made for the training by three gifted classes in one elementary school, and several garden clubs. Those that went through the training increased their ability to identify bird sounds by thirty to sixty percent. John Harrell, University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, reporting from Tifton.

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The drought, which began in May, 1998 was a wake up call for many people in Georgia, as they began looking for solutions to water shortages. In August, 2000 representatives of nine Georgia urban agriculture associations met to discusses the lingering water shortage. Wayne Gardener, a scientist with the University of Georgia's College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences says the meeting emphasized the drought is not the only reason the state faces water shortage problems. "Many Georgian's don't understand that all of our water that we use basically comes from sources within this state, and many of our streams and our reservoirs are becoming too small to support the growing population that we have here in Georgia.' Wayne Gardener with the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, who adds the water crisis in the state won't end when significant rains come and break the drought. Meeting Georgia's future water needs will require the development of a water-use plan that meets the water needs, as the state's population continues to increase. John Harrell, University of Georgia's College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, reporting from Tifton.

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Many people assume the winter months are the ideal time to give their gardening tools some much needed rest. But a Horticulturist with the University of Georgia Extension Service says it's time to get holly and other evergreen shrubs trimmed in landscape gardens or around the home. He adds these shrubs need to be trimmed before they begin putting on new growth. "We're past kind of the risk of the real hard freeze of winter and it's also just prior to spring growth and that's really the ideal time for a lot of plants." Mel Garber with the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. The university scientist goes on to say crepe myrtles and other summer flowering plants should also be pruned back in February. If you have herbaceous perennials such as lantana, go ahead and trim back the dead growth, so the plants will have an easier time putting on new growth this spring. John Harrell, University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, reporting from Tifton.

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