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| This Week's Titles: |
| Certain
Mutagens Could Harm Young Children |
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Starting A New Food Business |
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| Don't
Rush Peanut Planting |
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| Growing
Concerns About SARS |
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| Growing
Virginia Peanut Varieties In Georgia |
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| Certain
Mutagens Could Harm Young Children |
1:42 |
Young children could face increased
rates of cancer when exposed to certain substances. |
The Environmental Protection
Agency recently conducted a study that involved children two
years of age, and younger. Results from the study indicated
young children who are exposed to substances known as mutagens,
have a risk of developing cancer that is ten times greater than
that of adults. Jorge Atiles, a housing specialist with the
University of Georgia Extension Service says one of these mutagens
is familiar to many people. "The most common example of a mutagen
is tobacco smoke. We know they are carcinogens in tobacco smoke,
right, tobacco is made of several ingredients, several chemicals
and the chemical mutagen that is most famous in terms of affecting
children is tobacco smoke." Jorge Atiles with the College of
Family and Consumer Sciences, who adds lead and mercury are
other mutagens the study emphasized that could increase the
risk of cancer, in young children. The EPA is currently in the
process of revising and replacing their Guidelines for Carcinogen
Risk Assessment, which was published in 1986. Results from this
recent study will be part of this revision to EPA's cancer risk
guidelines. 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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| Starting
A New Food Business |
1:43 |
College scientists are helping
people that want to start a new food business. |
Every year a growing number
of people in Georgia consider starting a small business involving
the production of food products. Many have never been involved
with the food industry while farmers are looking to add value
to their crops. But scientists with the University of Georgia's
College of Agricultural and Environmental sciences say regulations,
as well as technical and legal issues can be a tough challenge.
Last year scientists at the University of Georgia began a one
day seminar titled "Starting a New Food Business, to east the
stress and confusion. "And, instead of just the technical parts
which are what I'm qualified to do we included doing feasibility
analysis and market studies and even some of the legal aspects
of, you know, if you're going to start a business and you're
going to be feeding people, what do you need to know." That
was Jim Daniels with the College of Agricultural and Environmental
Sciences. The first two seminars on Starting A New Food Business
were held last year in Gainesville and Tifton. University scientists
say the next seminar for those interested in starting a new
food business will take place in Atlanta this fall. 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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| Don't
Rush Peanut Planting |
1:32 |
A significant factor should
now be considered before farmers plant peanuts. |
For many years, farmers
used soil temperatures, soil moisture, and other factors to
decide when to plant peanuts. But in recent years, the tomato
spotted wilt virus has been infecting peanut fields, causing
serious damage. John Beasley, an agronomist with the University
of Georgia Extension Service says when peanuts go into the ground
are now key factors in reducing the threat of this deadly disease.
"Research right now is showing that our later plantings, we
see the lowest risk. In fact the optimal or lowest risk window
for spotted wilt now is May 11-25." John Beasley with the College
of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, who adds it's also
important to select a peanut variety that has some resistance
to the tomato spotted wilt virus. Farmers that are on a time
crunch and have to plant in April should resist the urge to
plant to quickly, and try to work things out to where they can
plant their peanuts in late April, to lessen the risk of this
disease. 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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| Growing
Concerns About SARS |
1:58 |
There are growing concerns
about a disease that could become a serious health threat. |
The Center for Disease
Control, along with the World Health Organization, have been
working overtime to find the specific cause of severe acute
respiratory syndrom, a serious respiratory illness also known
as SARS. Most of the confirmed cases are in Far Eastern Countries.
These include China, Hong Kong, Vietnam, and Singapore. Judy
Harrison, a foods specialist with the University of Georgia
Extension Service says the symptoms of SARS are similar to those
you experience when you get sick with the flu. "With a fever
that's greater than 100.4 fahrenheit, and people may experience
headache, just a feeling of discomfort and body aches, and some
people may also have mild respiratory symptoms and then after
about two to seven days people may develop a dry cough and have
trouble breathing." Judy Harrison with the College of Family
and Consumer Sciences, who adds around sixty five respiratory
illnesses are being investigated in the United States, and called
suspicious. But no cases of SARS have been officially confirmed
in the U.S. In Georgia two cases of a respiratory disease are
being labeled suspicious, and investigated by the CDC. But for
now, Georgia is considered free of this serious respiratory
disease. 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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| Growing
Virginia Peanut Varieties In Georgia |
1:28 |
Some growers are wondering
if Virginia peanut varieties are right for their farm. |
Activities are picking
up on farms in Georgia's peanut belt, as farmers prepare land
and get ready for planting. One critical decisions is which
peanut variety to grow, and a lot of questions are being asked
about Virginia varieties. John Beasley, an agronomist with the
University of Georgia Extension Service says Virginia varieties
have been grown successfully in Georgia. But he adds there are
some things to consider if you want to Grow a variety of Virginia
peanuts. "Keep these factors in mind that it's going to be a
higher cost for seed and a higher cost for gypsum that could
run your cost anywhere from fifty to maybe up to eighty, ninety,
a hundred dollars per acres more than growing the runner type
peanut Georgia green." John Beasley with the College of Agricultural
and Environmental Sciences. As with other varieties, the tomato
spotted wilt virus has university scientists concerned, and
if this deadly disease would hit Virginia peanut varieties hard.
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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