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| This Week's Titles: |
| Unique
Graduate Course Offered At Georgia |
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Teaching Children Importance
Of Saving Money |
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| Tracking
Foreign Animal Diseases |
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| Exemption
Granted For Popular Fumigant |
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| Preparing
Irrigation Systems For Action |
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| Unique
Graduate Course Offered At Georgia |
1:31 |
A breakthrough graduate course
is now being offered at the University of Georgia. |
The University of Georgia
is one of the first schools in the nation to offer the graduate
course, which uses the latest technology to determine the way
chemicals affect the body. Jeff Fisher, a scientist with the
University of Georgia's College of Agricultural and Environmental
Sciences says the course uses mathematical models to study the
effects of certain chemicals on human tissue, and if this exposure
could lead to an adverse reaction. "So we developed these models
and we can estimate body burdens of chemicals from certain types
of exposure in humans, to determine if there's potential for
an adverse effect." Jeff Fisher with the College of Agricultural
and Environmental Sciences, who adds students can learn how
to use these models to assess health risks in sites around the
state. Guest speakers from federal agencies visit to discuss
real-world applications. Thirteen students began the first class
back in January, and Fisher hopes to see the number increase
to around twenty, when the graduate course is offered again
next year. 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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| Teaching
Children Importance Of Saving Money |
1:36 |
There is a growing concern
about the need to teach children the benefits of saving money. |
As a nation, we are saving
less than our parents, and grandparents. Unfortunately, our
children are likely to save even less, if we don't find a way
to teach the necessity of savings. Patrice Dollar, a Family
Financial Management Specialist with the University of Georgia
Extension Service says teaching children the importance of saving
money has been a challenge in recent years. "There's a lesson
that's missing and they're not being taught to save or even
how to save at home. And even the school system is struggling
with being able to implement any type of educational program
that's going to provide them that same type of knowledge." Patrice
Dollar with the College of Family and Consumer Sciences. To
assist in delivering the saving message, the National Credit
Union Youth Week is scheduled April 18-24, which shows today's
youth the benefits of savings. In Georgia, Teach Children to
Save Day will take place Thursday, April 22, when bankers go
into schools throughout the state to work with teachers, so
they can properly teach students the many benefits of saving
money. 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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| Tracking
Foreign Animal Diseases |
1:48 |
A new system is being developed
to improve animal disease reporting, and tracking. |
When the first case of
mad cow disease was confirmed in Washington State late last
year, people feared more cases would be confirmed. Fortunately,
the case in Washington remained the only official case in the
U.S. But state and federal officials are taking no chances.
They are stepping up efforts to track foreign animal diseases.
Charles McPeake, a scientist with the University of Georgia's
College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences says the
proposed system will be able to track foreign animal diseases
within forty-eight hours. "That's the whole goal in being able
to identify the origin of an animal very quickly, know where
that animal has been in transit, and then know where or what
animals that that particular animal has been in contact with.
Then you can eliminate the route of travel and know the supply
of animals in which that animal has been in contact." Charles
Mc Peake with the College of Agricultural and Environmental
Sciences, who adds the industry and government have been working
on this system for about two years. Plans are now to phase in
the system over three years. The university scientist expects
the first phase to be complete this year. 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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| Exemption
Granted For Popular Fumigant |
1:42 |
Vegetable farmers recently
got some good news regarding a popular fumigant. |
For years vegetable growers
have used the fumigant methyl bromide to sterilize planting
beds covered in plastic. This helps control many destructive
weeds and disease before planting. But the popular fumigant
is scheduled to be phased out in the coming years, and growers
have not been able to find an effective replacement. But in
late March the United States and eleven other countries were
granted the critical-use exemption. Terry Kelley, a horticulturist
with the University of Georgia Extension Service says this means
farmers can keep using methyl bromide for commercial vegetable
production in 2005. "It's critical to the Georgia vegetable
industry, particularly with peppers, tomatoes, eggplant, squash,
cucumbers, and cantaloupes, and strawberries, that we keep methyl
bromide as long as we can, we understand the environmental implications
of it and certainly want to comply with the international treaty
when it's feasible." Terry Kelley with the College of Agricultural
and Environmental Sciences, who adds the exemption is only for
the year 2005. But several groups have already prepared and
submitted a critical-use exemption for 2006. 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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| Preparing
Irrigation Systems For Action |
1:37 |
Mother nature could be warning
farmers to get their irrigation systems ready for action. |
March, 2004, will go down
as one of the driest in most sections of the state, as many
locations received less than one inch of rain. Some experts
are concerned another drought could be on the horizon. Kerry
Harrison, an engineer with the University of Georgia Extension
Service says farmers should already be checking irrigation systems,
and making needed adjustments. He adds some crops planted early
may soon need help from irrigation. "And that means those crops
that are planted are in need of irrigation and we would be talking
about small grains such as wheat, and early planted crops like
corn, so basically any type of small grain crop that's in the
field right now would be short on water and we need to be looking
at it." Kerry Harrison with the College of Agricultural and
Environmental Sciences. Growers should check the sprinklers
on their center pivot systems and make sure they are calibrated.
Replace the ones not working, so the sprinklers can do their
job and provide water to dry soils. Also, check the pumping
equipment, and make sure the engines are running properly, so
a time-consuming breakdown won't cause your crops to suffer
and get thirsty. 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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