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| This Week's Titles: |
| Smokey
Dental Problems For Children |
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Early Problems For Tobacco
Farmers |
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| New
Law Affecting Child Safety Seats |
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| Watermelons
Could Taste Sweeter In 2004 |
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| Effects
Of Global Warming on Plants |
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| Smokey
Dental Problems For Children |
1:38 |
Children exposed to second
hand tobacco smoke could face other health problems. |
A recent study found children
ages four to eleven that were exposed to second-hand tobacco
smoke may experience higher rates of tooth decay. Jorge Atiles,
a housing specialist with the University of Georgia Extension
Service says a child's baby teeth are the ones damaged by second
hand smoke. "Ah, yes they found a strong association between
second hand smoke and a component, a chemical called cotinine,
and the cotenine levels that are consistent with second hand
smoke have shown more decayed surfaces in baby teeth for these
children." Jorge Atiles with the College of Family and Consumer
Sciences, who adds around 4,000 children between the ages of
four to eleven were involved in the study. Results from the
study also indicated second hand smoke was not a factor in causing
tooth decay in a child's permanent teeth. But it now appears
parents that smoke may have to shovel out more money in dental
bills, since their young children may wind up with more cavities.
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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| Early
Problems For Tobacco Farmers |
1:48 |
Tobacco farmers could face
several challenges early in the 2004 growing season. |
Most of Georgia's 2004
tobacco crop has been transplanted. But an agronomist with the
University of Georgia Extension Service says several problems
could move in and cause some early season problems. Unfortunately,
one of the problems is the dreaded tomato spotted wilt virus.
"Generally levels ranging between five and ten percent symptomatic
plants across the state. We do have pockets that have as much
as thirty-five or forty percent of the plants showing symptoms.
At this point there's not a lot that can be done to reduce tomato
spotted wilt virus in the field once it's already transplanted."
That was J. Michael Moore with the College of Agricultural and
Environmental Sciences. Farmers also need to watch for budworms,
and apply insecticides if they notice large numbers of these
insect pests. The university scientist goes on to say the rains
that fell across the tobacco belt in early May created ideal
conditions for the disease blank shank to infect the root systems.
So growers need to consider applying a protective fungicide
to prevent this disease from infecting tobacco plants, and reducing
quality and yields. 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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| New
Law Affecting Child Safety Seats |
1:33 |
A new law could raise the age
for children to be secured in a child safety seat while traveling. |
The law currently states
children four years of age and under must be strapped into child
safety seats. The new bill extends the law to cover children
for another year, up to their sixth birthday, in safety seats.
Don Bower, a human development specialist with the University
of Georgia Extension Service says studies show older children
that would fall under the new law are safer in booster seats.
"Well the research indicates that children between the ages
of about four and eight are actually safer in a booster seat
as opposed to just the vehicle safety belts. So the new law
extends the age from four to five, during which a child must
ride in a safety seat or a booster seat." Don Bower with the
College of Family and Consumer Sciences. The bill has been passed
by both houses in Georgia and now awaits the Governor's signature.
If he signs the bill, the new law will become official, and
go into effect July 1. 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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| Watermelons
Could Taste Sweeter In 2004 |
1:28 |
Mother nature may help watermelons
taste sweeter this year. |
Growers in Georgia normally
plant around 28,000 acres of watermelons each year. But acreage
could increase slightly this year, because market prices were
strong last year. Terry Kelley, a horticulturist with the University
of Georgia Extension Service says the dry spring weather could
help sweeten the crop. "It will benefit us in a couple of ways.
One is that usually when you have a drier season you've got
sweeter melons, and not as much water in the melon so it concentrates
the sugar and causes the melons to be a little sweeter the other
thing is you don't have quite as much disease problems." Terry
Kelley with the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.
Georgia ranks third behind Florida and Texas in watermelon production.
The big market for Georgia watermelons is the July 4 holiday,
when plans for a cookout includes sweet watermelons from 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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| Effects
Of Global Warming On Plants |
1:41 |
College scientists are studying
the possible effects of global warming on plants. |
For several years we've
heard about how the earth's climate may be warming, because
of rising levels of the gas carbon dioxide. But scientists with
the University of Georgia's College of Agricultural and Environmental
Sciences want to study and learn the effects of global warming
on farm crops. Ian Flitcroft, a research engineer with the University
of Georgia's College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences
says the crops are grown in a facility called an envirotron,
which features chambers in which humidity and temperatures are
controlled. "And so we can simulate what the weather would be
like for plants if they were to experience global warming so
rising temperatures, higher levels of carbon dioxide, and maybe
we can even change the amount of water they receive as well."
Ian Flitcroft with the College of Agricultural and Environmental
Sciences. The envirotron facility opened in Spalding County
in 1998. Since it opened, scientists from around the world have
visited the site to see how global warming could effect peanuts
and many other food producing crops. 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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