|
|
| This Week's Titles: |
| Georgia's
Pecan Crop Survives A Visit From Dennis |
|
|
Improving Gardening Skills
Near Atlanta |
|
| Finding
A Place To Study At Home |
|
| Building
A Dream In Southeast Georgia |
|
| Risk
Management Strategies For Peanut Growers |
|
|
|
| Georgia's
Pecan Crop Survives A Visit From Dennis |
1:22 |
Georgia's 2005 pecan crop survives
a visit from Hurricane Dennis. |
When pecan growers found
out Hurricane Dennis would be making a close pass in mid-July,
they feared their chances of a good crop would blow away in
the wind. But a horticulturist with the University of Georgia
Extension Service says Dennis left behind some minor damage,
but overall, this year's pecan crop is still looking good. "Hurricane
Dennis that came through, probably we didn't get too much damage
from that just a few limbs down here and there, we lost a few
trees but nothing major." That was Lenny Wells with the College
of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, who adds the biggest
challenge facing the 2005 pecan crop is the disease scab. This
disease always increases when the state experiences lots of
rain and humidity. The university scientist advises pecan farmers
to stay on a good fungicide treatment program, to keep scab
under control, especially during this critical time when the
nuts are filling out. 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.)
|
| |
 |
| Improving
Gardening Skills Near Atlanta |
1:28 |
A county near Atlanta is working
to help residents become master gardeners. |
As Ginnett County continues
to urbanize, large-scale agriculture has declined in the county.
While farming decreases, home gardening has increased sharply
in the county. Steve Pettis, a county extension agent in Gwinnett
County says gardening gives people a chance to put their land
to work. "Lots of people coming in wanting to get into home
gardening. A lot of people want to grow fruits, people want
to start a little vegetable garden, people interested in doing
all sorts of little agrinomic endeavors, we even have recent
retires often times who have a few acres that want to produce
something to sell." Steve Pettis with the University of Georgia's
College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. Several
gardening seminars were held in the county to teach residents
proper gardening techniques. With the help of education videos
and newspaper columns, thousands of Gwinnett County residents
received information that will help them manage chemicals more
efficiently, and reduce soil erosion, and runoff. 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.)
|
| |
|
| Finding
A Place To Study At Home |
1:22 |
When school bells ring in another
school year, make sure students have a place where they can
study and learn. |
Most schools across the
state will open their doors in early August to begin another
school year. Don Bower, a human development specialist with
the University of Georgia Extension Service says getting back
into a study routine will be a challenge for many students.
One way to help students get back into the habit of home study
is to provide a location where they can study and learn. "In
order to maintain your focus and your concentration, yes, you
need to have a good seating place, a good surface to work on,
and good lighting. You need to be comfortable, but not too comfortable."
Don Bower with the College of Family and Consumer Sciences.
If finding a good place to study around the home is a challenge,
consider a public library. At a library, students can study
in a quiet, peaceful environment, and have quick access to reference
materials, and the internet. Trained librarians will also help
students find the specific materials they need. 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.)
|
| |
|
| Building
A Dream In Southeast Georgia |
1:32 |
A Southeast Georgia county
built it, and they came. |
During the mid-nineties,
a group of people in Coffee County began dreaming about a facility.
The large facility would provide a place where the youth of
Coffee County could take part in livestock shows, and other
educational activities concerning agriculture. Randy Roberts,
a county extension agent in Coffee County says the dream became
a reality, when the South Georgia Youth Park opened in 2004.
"When we had our county steer and heifer show in March, 2004,
and since then we've had a variety of horse shows, we've had
cattle shows, team ropings, concerts, and all sorts of activities."
Randy Roberts with the University of Georgia' College of Agricultural
and Environmental Sciences, who adds a regional 4-H and FFA
meat goat show was held at the facility. The 2005 regional meat
goat show will be held at the facility in September. The South
Georgia Youth Park is located near Nichols, in Eastern Coffee
County. Additional activities are planned for the park, and
additional facilities are being developed, so what started out
as a dream will continue to grow. John Harrell, University of
Georgia's College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences,
reporting from Tifton. |
Links to audio files:
(files include a brief quote from the source for your use.)
|
| |
|
| Risk
Management Strategies For Peanut Growers |
1:35 |
College scientists are working
to help peanut farmers develop risk management strategies. |
Peanut producers in the
state are still adapting to changes that took place after the
2002 Farm Bill became official. One alternative being explored
by producers is to form a New Generation Shelling Cooperative.
Nathan Smith, an agricultural economist with the University
of Georgia Extension Service says this proposal would allow
growers to pool their peanuts and sell a process or shelled
product. Two separate groups of peanut farmers have organized
producer-owned shelling businesses, to shell and market peanuts.
Smith says this proposal does have risks. "There's been interest
there but with that comes risks and there's been concern on
that end, too as far as the risk of getting into value added
ventures such as shelling peanuts. You'll be taking on additional
risks particularly in the marketing side as well as the risk
of processing." Nathan Smith with the College of Agricultural
and Environmental Sciences. Results of a study conducted by
University agricultural economists indicate the combination
of purchasing area-yield insurance and forward selling shelled
peanuts during the time before harvest has the most potential
of reducing risks while increasing peanut farmer's return on
assets. John Harrell, University of Georgia's College of Agricultural
and Environmental Sciences, reporting from Tifton. |
Links to audio files:
(files include a brief quote from the source for your use.)
|
| |
|
|
|
