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| This Week's Titles: |
| Beware
Of Crisis Scam Artists |
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Live Easter Gifts Grow
Into Problems |
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| Green
Industry Booming Despite Sluggish Economy |
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| Worldwide
Fertility Problem Researched |
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| Plant
Evolution Being Studied |
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| Beware
Of Crisis Scam Artists |
1:35 |
Don't get taken to the cleaners
during times of crisis. |
With the U.S. engaged in
war with Iraq, many people want to lend a helping hand by donating
to war-related charities and causes. But a consumer economic
specialist with the University of Georgia Extension Service
says con artists are out there who seek to take advantage of
these uncertain times, and line their pockets with your money.
Many of these scam artists will call you on the telephone, asking
you to donate to a certain charity, to help the war effort.
"That could well be true or they could use a name that's very
similar to a real charitable organization or they may even present
themselves as being part of some official organization though
they are not." That was Michael Rupured with the College of
Family and Consumer Sciences. If you receive a call for a donation,
request written information about any investment or charity.
If they balk or hesitate, hang up immediately. You can also
contact the Georgia Secretary of State's Office to check out
charities and the seller, to find out if they are licensed and
registered. 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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| Live
Easter Gifts Grow Into Problems |
1:19 |
Baby animals given as Easter
presents to young children could present problems when they
grow up. |
For years baby chicks,
ducks, and rabbits have been found in homes on Easter Sunday
morning as gifts for young children. But Mike Isbell, a county
extension agent in Heard County says most children will lose
interest in these animals as they grow up. He adds they also
lose their cuteness in a hurry as they grow up, and present
more problems. "Course it needs more feed, it makes a bigger
mess wherever you're keeping it, sometimes you're going to have
to turn it loose and let it be on it's own somewhere so that
becomes a problem you've got to keep it away from animals that
may come in your yard like dogs." Mike Isbell with the University
of Georgia's College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.
If you're thinking about giving a baby animal as an Easter present
in the future, remember to also consider the animals. When they
grow up, far too many wind up abandoned. Find out from the parents
if they really want one around the house, and if they will be
willing to take care of 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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| Green
Industry Booming Despite Sluggish Economy |
1:32 |
Despite a sluggish economy,
business is booming in one industry. |
When it comes to the economy,
we hear reports of belt-tightening and labor markets that have
weakened. But a horticulturist with the University of Georgia
Extension Service says the green industry continues to bloom
across the state. He adds the ability to change with the times
is one key to the green industries continued success during
hard times. "In bad times because, even during periods of drought
and economic downturn there are always demands for types of
landscape services, when we had the drought for instance during
the recent years, firms began to diversify and they offered
new things such as hardscape installations, which are things
like walks and drives." Gary Wade with the College of Agricultural
and Environmental Sciences. The green industry includes greenhouses,
nursery and turf growers, landscapers, retail garden centers,
and golf courses. It has an estimated $4.2 billion yearly impact
in Georgia. 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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| Worldwide
Fertility Problem Researched |
1:45 |
College scientists are working
to solve a worldwide fertility problem |
To grow, plants pull elements
from the soil through their roots. Phosphorus is one of the
hardest elements for their roots to soak up. Gary Gascho, a
scientist with the University of Georgia's College of Agricultural
and Environmental Sciences says farm crops worldwide have a
tough time getting enough phosphorus for healthy growth. If
it's not applied directly around a plant's root area, the plant
has little chance of getting phosphorus into its system. But
an element called silicon may hold the key to solving this fertility
problem. "Silicon is an element with similar physical size to
phosphorus, and is often substituted for phosphorus and so if
we can apply silicon we know we release some phosphorus from
these soils." Gary Gascho with the College of Agricultural and
Environmental Sciences. Rice hulls, considered trash by most
people, have a large concentration of silicon. Research is underway
to find the best way to get and apply this form of silicon as
a soil amendment to help solve the phosphorus fertility problem.
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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| Plant
Evolution Being Studied |
1:30 |
College scientists are working
to unlock mysteries about plant evolution. |
For over a century, scientists
have studied to learn when and how the vast variety of plants
today merged from common ancestors. A recent study conducted
at the University of Georgia allowed scientists to simulate
what the gene order may have looked like in a common ancestor
of higher plants. It also shows one way plants may have been
different from their ancestors, and each other. "About how different
plants are related to one another. That helps us to use information
from plants that are very simple to study, to better understand
plants that are more difficult to study like major crops." That
was Andy Patterson with the University of Georgia's College
of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. The information
gained from this research will have a significant economic impact
because it allows scientists to study and improve other plants
whose DNA hasn't been completely sequenced, such as peanuts,
cotton, or wheat. 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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