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| This Week's Titles: |
| College
Scientists Helping Dairy Producers |
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Severe Weather A Concern
During Spring |
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| Filing
Tax Returns Without Professional Help |
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| Diabetes
Health Problems Getting Worse |
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| Getting
Out Of Debt In 2003 |
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| College
Scientists Helping Dairy Producers |
1:27 |
A program developed by college
scientists is helping dairy farmers manage their herds more
efficiently. |
The Dairy Herd Management
Analysis program provides assistance to dairy farmers to help
improve production, and increase profits. The program also provides
on-farm visits and conferences between scientists and producers.
A website was also developed with the program, that allows dairymen
in Georgia to compare management practices with each other,
as well as dairy farmers throughout the country. "Producers
may get on the website to compare management practices of their
herd with other herds in the Southeast or Nationwide." That
was Jim Smith with the University of Georgia's College of Agricultural
and Environmental Sciences. The percentage of dairy cows enrolled
in the Dairy Herd Management Analysis program increased from
forty three percent in 1985, to sixty four percent, as of January,
2002. Cows enrolled in the program produce about forty eight
percent more milk, compared to other dairy cows not signed up
for the program. 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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| Severe
Weather A Concern During Spring |
1:38 |
Georgia is moving into a season
when they need to watch the weather more closely. |
During late February and
early March the weather normally starts to warm up in Georgia.
But the time between late February and late May is what weather
forecasters call the severe weather season, when favorable conditions
increase the probability of tornadoes and severe thunderstorms.
Pam Knox, the Assistant State Climatologist at the University
of Georgia says people need to be concerned about damaging straight
line winds that occur with severe thunderstorms. "Anytime you
have winds over forty five, fifty miles an hour you can really
start to see damage, first with the smaller tree limbs and then
with more lightly built buildings and of course if the winds
go up more damage. Mobile homes are a prime target because usually
they are not anchored down very well." Pam Knox with the College
of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, who adds thunderstorms
can produce dangerous cloud to ground lightning, which can also
have deadly results. Knox goes on to say the best way to protect
yourself when severe weather threatens is develop an emergency
plan in advance. Use a NOAA weather radio that puts out an emergency
tone when watches or warnings are issued. The tone will also
alert you when a watch or warning is issued at night. 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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| Filing
Tax Returns Without Professional Help |
1:34 |
Some people may not need professional
help to file their tax returns. |
For many people, filing
a tax return can be a complicated, time consuming process. Tax
laws are complex, and people fear they will make a mistake.
But everyone does not need to go to a paid professional to file
their returns, according to a consumer economic specialist with
the University of Georgia Extension Service. He adds software
is available for those with personal computers that takes some
of the stress out of preparing tax returns. "The software makes
it very easy because it kind of checks everything for you and
helps you to find things you might not have thought about before
and also checks any information that you do put in to make sure
it's accurate." That was Michael Rupured with the College of
Family and Consumer Sciences. Another way is to go to a web
site. A number of the larger commercial preparation services
have a web site where you can go and enter your return on-line.
But you must pay a fee for the use of this web service. 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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| Diabetes
Health Problems Getting Worse |
1:28 |
A recent study revealed some
grim details concerning diabetes in Georgia. |
The study, conducted by
the Georgia Department of Human Resources revealed 422,000 adults
were diagnosed with diabetes in Georgia in 2001. Connie Crawley,
a nutrition and health specialist with the University of Georgia
Extension Service says the number of adult cases may be up to
633,000, since there are many undiagnosed cases of the disease.
She adds two factors are contributing to the increased problem
with diabetes. "The number one reason we think is because people
are gaining more weight as they get older and that they are
being less active." Connie Crawley with the College of Family
and Consumer Sciences, who adds another concern is more people
are being diagnosed with diabetes at younger ages. The university
specialist goes on to say if people who are overweight will
lose about five to seven percent of their body weight, and exercise
thirty minutes per day for at least five days a week, sixty
percent of those at high risk for getting diabetes would not
develop it. 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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| Getting
Out Of Debt In 2003 |
1:43 |
Georgian's should work to become
debt-free in 2003. |
Last year more than one
million families filed for bankruptcy. Many were victims of
credit repair scams, debt consolidation schemes, or abusive
lending practices, that made their situation much worse. Countless
others struggle to dig themselves out of debt on their own,
with varying degrees of success. Michael Rupured, a consumer
economic specialist with the University of Georgia Extension
Service says people should make every effort to get out of debt
this year. "The best thing you can do for yourself is to get
out of debt, you know, not only will you save yourself the money
that you're paying in interest and finance charges every month
but you'll have that money that you've been putting out in payments
to do other things with." Michael Rupured with the College of
Family and Consumer Sciences. If you're up to your neck in debt,
you should first assess your situation. Start with your credit
report, which is a record of your repayment history with creditors
you've had the last seven years. Credit counseling is also available,
but first find out they charge for the service, and terms of
the payments. Stay away from counselors that attempt to talk
you into consolidation loans. If debt is your problem, more
borrowing is not the answer. 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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