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| This Week's Titles: |
| Another
Breakthrough In Calf Cloning |
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New Farm Bill Closer To
Reality |
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| Southern
Pine Beetle Attacking Trees |
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| Drought
Could Get Worse This Summer |
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| Helping
Peach Trees Live Longer |
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| Another
Breakthrough In Calf Cloning |
1:38 |
Another major breakthrough
in calf cloning recently occurred at the University of Georgia. |
College scientists recently
produced the first calf ever cloned from cells of a slaughtered
cow. The calf was delivered by caesarian section on Monday,
April 22, and is now alive and well. Steve Stice, a scientist
with the University of Georgia's College of Agricultural and
Environmental Sciences says this breakthrough could bring with
it a lot of benefits to cattlemen, and the cattle industry.
"In that not only can we pick animals now based on their production
potential, that is weight gain or feed efficiency, but now we
can actually do things on the meat itself, and determine how
the quality is and the quantity and the yield grade and all
those things that will be helpful to select the best animals
to breed the next generation." Steve Stice with the College
of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. Genetic material
for the clone was taken from the cow's kidney area, approximately
forty-eight hours after the cow had been slaughtered in a commercial
facility. The cells were then processed and cloned in a University
of Georgia-ProLinia laboratory. John Harrell, University of
Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences,
reporting from Tifton. |
Links to audio files:
(files include a brief quote from the source for your use.)
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| New
Farm Bill Closer To Reality |
1:48 |
The new farm bill is one step
closer to being signed, sealed, and delivered. |
The US-House farm bill
conference committee reached agreement on the new farm bill
in late April. The new farm bill will be for six years, beginning
with the 2002 crop. Don Shurley, an Agricultural Economist with
the University of Georgia Extension Service says payment limitations
many farmers were concerned about were addressed in this new
proposed farm bill. "I think that is going to be a much better
situation for our growers now that we don't have to worry about
payment limitation. The peanut producers still, still going
to be affected by this, but in general terms overall, I think
it's a good bill, it provides substantially increased income
support for our farmers." Don Shurley with the College of Agricultural
and Environmental Sciences. The proposed farm bill must now
be debated by both the full House and Senate. Once this is done
the bill moves on to the President for his signature. The university
ag economist expects these final steps to be completed, and
the bill to become official in May. John Harrell, University
of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental and Environmental
Sciences, reporting from Tifton. |
Links to audio files:
(files include a brief quote from the source for your use.)
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| Southern
Pine Beetles Attacking Trees |
1:35 |
Southern pine beetles are once
again killing pine trees in Georgia. |
Most of the problems associated
with these insects are in North Georgia, from Atlanta Northward.
Only isolated problems are being reported in timber stands in
Central Georgia. South Georgia currently only has isolated problems
with other beetles, including ips and black terpentine beetles.
David Dickens, a Forester with the University of Georgia Extension
Service says the continuing drought increases stress in pine
trees, creating ideal conditions for an attack by southern pine
beetles. "Same thing with a tree when they are under an unhealthy,
very stressed mode they are more susceptible to in this case
a beetle attack." David Dickens with the Warnell School of Forest
Resources. To reduce the chances of an attack by southern pine
beetles, landowners should check their timber stands every two
or three weeks, and make sure crowns at the top of the trees
are not turning yellow or red. With the state entering a peak
time for thunderstorms, you should also watch for trees struck
by lightning, cut down and remove these weakened trees if possible.
John Harrell, University of Georgia College of Agricultural
and Environmental Sciences, reporting from Tifton. |
Links to audio files:
(files include a brief quote from the source for your use.)
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| Drought
Could Get Worse This Summer |
1:40 |
There are no encouraging signs
on the horizon concerning Georgia's extended drought. |
The drought will enter
its fifth year in May, and many people still have fresh memories
of crops drying up in fields, and lawns turning brown and wilting
in the heat. As another summer approaches David Stooksbury,
the State Climatologist and Professor of Engineering at the
University of Georgia says these dry conditions are expected
to worsen during the summer months. He adds Georgian's should
be prepared for a lot of summer heat. "The major concern is
that computer models for the summer are indicating that there
is a high probability that summertime temperatures in Georgia
will be above normal. Since normal temperatures across most
of the state are in the upper eighties to low nineties this
means much of Georgia can expect temperatures well into the
nineties through the summer." David Stooksbury with the College
of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, who adds soil-moisture
loss due to evaporation and transpiration may be greater than
normal. This increase in soil-moisture loss will tend to increase
the drought's severity during the summer of 2002. John Harrell,
University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental
Sciences, reporting from Tifton. |
Links to audio files:
(files include a brief quote from the source for your use.)
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| Helping
Peach Trees Live Longer |
1:33 |
Peach trees in Georgia may
live longer, thanks to college scientists. |
Peach growers in Georgia
and the Southeast have struggled with a problem called Peach
Tree Decline Syndrome for many years. The problem was thought
to be caused by high levels of aluminum in the soil. But after
studying results from a research study, scientists with the
University of Georgia's College of Agricultural and Environmental
Sciences have found Peach Tree Decline Syndrome is not related
to high soil aluminum. "And they have the shortest life in a
peach tree short life situation orchard, actually are the ones
that were more tolerant of aluminum so this kind of eliminated
high soil aluminum as a potential problem." That was Gary Couvillon
with the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences,
who adds scientists still do not know the specific cause of
Peach Tree Decline Syndrom. But future research can look into
other possible causes, since aluminum toxicity in soils has
been ruled out. John Harrell, University of Georgia College
of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, reporting from Tifton. |
Links to audio files:
(files include a brief quote from the source for your use.)
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