|
|
| This Week's Titles: |
| Infant
Food Saving Lives In Africa |
|
|
Georgia's Winter Vegetables
Take Cold Hit |
|
| College
Scientists Ease Environmental Concerns |
|
| Corn
Market Prices Looking Up |
|
| Taxes
And The Peanut Quota Buyout |
|
|
|
| Infant
Food Saving Lives in Africa |
1:45 |
College scientists developed
an infant food that is saving lives in the tropics of Africa. |
Malnutrition continues
to be a serious problem with young children in several African
countries. Many children suffer hair loss and edema, which causes
their stomachs to swell. But scientists with the University
of Georgia's College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences,
along with food scientists in Ghana, developed a product called
a weaning formula, which is fed to young children when they
are six months to a year old. The formula is made of several
nourishing products that help these children when they need
to begin eating solid foods. "Generally these foods are mixtures
of cereals, such as corn or rice, sorghum, and legumes such
as, in our case we use black-eyed pea or cow pea because that's
the most important starchy legume crop in West Africa. We also
use peanut, and we also looked at soybean as a source." That
was Dick Phillips with the College of Agricultural and Environmental
Sciences . Since the weaning formula was introduced in Ghana
several years ago, the results have been remarkable. Hospital
cribs once full of little starving children are now empty, because
the children are no longer starving. 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.)
|
| |
 |
| Georgia's
Winter Vegetables Take Cold Hit |
1:27 |
Georgia's winter vegetable
crops took a cold lick in January. |
In late January, a frigid
blast of arctic air sent temperatures nosediving into the low
and mid teens across much of the state. This cold air nipped
cabbage, turnip greens, and other winter vegetables, so there
was some damage in most fields. But a horticulturist with the
University of Georgia Extension Service says the current winter,
which has been a cold one featuring several nights of temperatures
below freezing, may have helped prevent the damage from being
worse. "Fortunately we were able to acclimate somewhat to those
temperatures because it had been cold previously, if it had
gone from seventy degrees to fifteen degrees overnight it would
have really been a bad situation." That was Terry Kelley with
the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. The
university scientist goes on to say the extreme cold may cause
winter vegetables to go into their reproductive stage sooner.
If this happens, the quality of the 2003 winter vegetable crop
could be lower. 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.)
|
| |
|
| College
Scientists Ease Environmental Concerns |
1:47 |
A recent study conducted by
college scientists has eased concerns about the environment. |
For years properly treated
municipal sewage sludge has been used as fertilizer in certain
fields in Georgia. Not long ago concerns were being expressed
about toxic levels of copper and other heavy metals building
up in soil and hay where this treated sludge was applied. But
results from a study conducted by scientists with the University
of Georgia's College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences
found soil and hay fields tested did not contain toxic levels
of heavy metals. "And basically what we found was that there
was not a buildup of metals to toxic levels in the soils in
even the fields that had used it for a long time, and in most
cases did not see any differences in the hay coming off fields
that were using biosolids." That was Julia Gaskin with the College
of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, who adds new regulations
concerning levels of heavy metals in treated sewage were added
in 1993. These new regulations further reduce the chances of
toxic levels of these heavy metals accumulating in fields, where
treated sludge was applied. 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.)
|
| |
|
| Corn
Market Prices Looking Up |
1:34 |
Georgia's corn farmers may
have something to look forward to, as they get ready to plant
their 2003 crop. |
Since the late nineties,
farmers had little hope, and a lot of bad news to deal with.
Hot, dry growing conditions, along with near record low market
prices burned yields, and kept paychecks down. But an agricultural
economist with the University of Georgia Extension Service says
corn market prices are looking up in 2003. He adds growing interest
in a new fuel source should increase the demand for corn. "New
ethanol mills coming on line will consume more and more corn.
This is a growing important market segment for corn and helps
our energy situation here at home as well. Ending stocks will
be tight, and provide a good support level for prices." That
was George Shumaker with the College of Agricultural and Environmental
Sciences, who predicts market prices for corn should average
around $2.40 a bushel, with slightly higher prices possible
in Georgia. The university economist advises farmers to watch
the markets closely, and be prepared to forward price some of
the crop if weather rallies push prices higher. 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.)
|
| |
|
| Taxes
And The Peanut Quota Buyout |
1:37 |
Peanut farmers and many farm
land owners have something else to consider, as they prepare
their 2002 tax returns. |
The latest farm bill included
a buyout of peanut marketing quotas. With the arrival of another
income tax season, many quota buyout recipients are wondering
what they should do about the peanut quota buyout payment, as
they prepare their tax forms. Keith Kightlinger, an agricultural
economist with the University of Georgia Extension Service says
there is a key factor in knowing how much of this income is
to be taxed. "Now the key to correctly determining how much
income is to be taxed is knowing the basis in the quota. If
the quota was purchased, this is the amount that was paid for
the quota. If it was inherited it's the fair market value that
was assigned to the quota at the time that the property was
inherited." Keith Kightlinger with the College of Agricultural
and Environmental Sciences. The university economist recommends
peanut farmers taking part in the quota program discuss this
issue with their tax preparation specialist, so they will know
the correct tax procedure for that buyout payment. 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.)
|
| |
|
|
|
