Back in January the state experienced an early taste of spring, with temperatures well into the seventies, and eighties. The warm conditions caused several trees and shrubs to pop out in blooms, thinking spring had arrived. But Mike Isbell, a county agent in Heard County, Georgia, says don't let the blooms convince you the cold weather is over. Those big, old pecan trees are still bare. These wise trees do not listen when a brief winter warm up whispers winter is over. "There's a saying in South Georgia that goes something like this: Don't plant until the pecan leaves are as big as moue ears." That's because pecan trees are one of the last trees to put on its new buds in the spring." Mike Isbell with the University of Georgia's College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. Plants and shrubs need a certain amount of chill hours to meet their dormancy requirements. Once they are satisfied, the warm weather causes them to bloom forth. But the wise, old pecan trees sit back and wait, because deep inside they know it's still winter, and that means cold weather is not finished. John Harrell, University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, reporting from Tifton.

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The Earned Income Credit is a special tax benefit for people who work full-or part-time. Last year the Earned Income Credit was worth more than 1.25 billion to Georgia families. More than 700,000 families received the benefit. Michael Rupured, a Financial Management Specialist with the University of Georgia Extension Service says the Earned Income Credit has the potential to help a lot of families in the state. "It depends on how many children you have to some extent, if you just one child, and you earn less than $28,121 last year, then you're eligible. If you have two or more children then you can earn up to $32,121and be eligible and that's last year's income." Michael Rupured with the College of Family and Consumer Sciences, who adds as many as 300,000 families may have been eligible for Earned Income Credit in 2001, but failed to complete a federal tax return in order to receive their credit. The Earned Income Credit Advance Payment option allows some workers who are raising children to get part of their paychecks throughout the year, and part in a check from the IRS after they file their tax return. John Harrell, University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, reporting from Tifton.

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Most of Georgia received one to three inches of rain in early February. But the State Climatologist and Professor of Engineering at the University of Georgia says the rains helped, but it will take several months of above-normal rainfall to break this drought, which will soon enter its fourth year. He adds time is running out to get soils, streams, and reservoirs recharged, and water levels up. "The next eight weeks are going to be critical for short term moisture supply. We are entering the wettest time of the year, thus we still have time to have adequate top soil moisture for the beginning of planting season. However, it is unlikely that we will have a good reserve and thus if we do not have continual rains through the growing season, we could find ourselves in poor shape very quickly." David Stooksbury with the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. Long rang models indicate an El Nino could be developing in the equitoral Pacific. However, this does not mean Georgia will experience a wet summer. The effects of another El Nino would not be felt in Georgia until next winter. John Harrell, University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, reporting from Tifton.

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According to medical experts, we have two types of cholesterol in our blood: The good called HDL, and the bad which is called LDL. A recent study showed women that had low HDL levels could face an increased risk of heart attack or stroke. Connie Crawley, a Nutrition Specialist with the University of Georgia Extension Service says results from the study show women need to keep a check on their cholesterol, especially the good HDL. "And what we are finding in women is that it's really that HDL, or high density lipoprotein that seems to have the biggest influence on their risk factors. In other words we want their HDL's to be as high as possible to keep their risk low." Connie Crawley with the College of Family and Consumer Sciences. The study involved fifty five obese older women. Their diets were analyzed to determine what dietary factor influenced the drop in HDL cholesterol. The study found it was not the change in the type of fat they consumed. But those women who substituted starches and unsaturated fat for their fat calories had a smaller decrease in their HDL cholesterol levels than those who added sugar. John Harrell, University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, reporting from Tifton.

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Script Last year a new tax credit was enacted by Congress, which encourages workers to make contributions to a retirement plan, or Individual Retirement Account. Michael Rupured, a Financial Management Specialist with the University of Georgia Extension Service says the purpose of the new Saver's Tax Credit is to encourage people to save plenty of money for retirement. "That's correct, it was just enacted by congress in 2001, and it's designed to encourage workers to take full advantage of the retirement options they have available to them, most people aren't saving adequately for retirement." Michael Rupured with the College of Family and Consumer Sciences. The New Saver's Tax Credit goes into effect for contributions made during 2002. To claim this credit, you must be age 18 or older, not claimed as a dependent on anyone else's return, and not be a full time student. John Harrell, University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, reporting from Tifton.

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