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| This Week's Titles: |
| County
Keeps It's Springs Beautiful |
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Keeping The State's Agriculture
Teachers Informed |
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| Certain
Bacteria Help Dairy Cows |
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| New
Fungicide Helps Blueberry Growers |
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| Dry
September Hurts 2005 Peanut Crop |
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| County
Keeps It's Springs Beautiful |
1:39 |
A county in East Central Georgia
is working to keep its springs clean and beautiful. |
Around seven million gallons
of crystal clear water per day flow from Magnolia Springs in
Jenkins County. Keeping these 1,071 acres around the springs
clean is a challenge. In 2003 the Jenkins County High School
4-H took the responsibility of keeping Magnolia Springs clean
and appealing to visitors. Wade Parker, a county extension agent
in Jenkins County says it takes a lot of work to keep hiking
and nature trails appealing to visitors. "We improved the erosion
control by leveling and grading parts of the trail, and dumping
gravel and smoothed it out, we installed three park benches
along the trail and that gave the user a chance to rest. We
cleared all low hanging limbs and we got the leaves, we raked
those out of the way, and we did some mowing." That was Wade
parker with the University of Georgia's College of Agricultural
and Environmental Sciences. Young people taking part in the
project also benefit by learning valuable life skills. These
include teamwork, leadership and character. They also gained
a strong understanding of community spirit, and developed a
stronger work ethic. 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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| Keeping
The State's Agriculture Teachers Informed |
1:28 |
Several University of Georgia
faculty members are working to keep those that teach agriculture
throughout the state informed on important issues. |
As schools, students, and
legislation changes, teacher education must also re-evaluate,
and change with the times. Education specialists with the University
of Georgia's College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences
are working to determine teacher preparation and in-service
needs when it comes to teaching agriculture in public schools.
John Ricketts, an assistant professor with the University of
Georgia's College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences
says teachers learn how to teach skills in agriculture for students
that won't go to work on a farm when they finish school. "You
know they need those skills for other parts of agriculture as
well, their distribution, the marketing, the business end of
it, and even the consumer part that's another very important
part." John Ricketts with the College of Agricultural and Environmental
Sciences. Applied research, followed by teacher preparation
and professional development opportunities, which addresses
the most needed items of agriculture teachers, result in more
teacher retention, more qualified teachers, and more positive
student achievement in public schools. 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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| Certain
Bacteria Help Dairy Cows |
1:32 |
College scientists have found
certain bacteria have positive benefits, when they are a part
of a dairy cow's diet. |
Cattle depend on a number
of microbes to help digest nutrients, and produce nutrients
for growth, production, and reproduction. Scientists with the
University of Georgia's College of Agricultural and Environmental
Sciences found when mixed with cattle feed, these tiny creatures
improve the overall health of a dairy cow, which saves a dairyman
money. "What it means is the cow and the farmer is getting more
for each pound of feed they put in the cow its making the cow
use her feed more efficiently so if you can get her to produce
more milk without eating much or even any more dry matter intake
it means you're getting more out of every dollar you spend."
That was Joe West with the College of Agricultural and Environmental
Sciences. Data collected from the research included daily feed
intake and milk yield, milk composition, blood samples, and
cow body weight change. Results indicate cows had a small improvement
in the use of proteins with the bacterial additive treatment.
So it appears these bacterial inoculants can improve milk yields
and nutrient efficiency on the states dairy farms. 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
Fungicide Helps Blueberry Growers |
1:32 |
College research may soon provide
blueberry growers in Southeast Georgia a new, less expensive
weapon to control a tough disease. |
Leaf spot, which is caused
by rust, anthracnose, and septoria can cause blueberry bushes
to lose their leaves, making it hard for the plants to consume
the nutrients they need. Control of leaf spot has been limited
to very expensive fungicide applications. In Bacon County, scientists
with the University of Georgia's College of Agricultural and
Environmental Sciences have been testing a new chemical called
ProPhyte for control of this disease. Danny Stanaland, a county
extension agent in Bacon County says test results have been
positive. "It is one of the lesser expensive fungicides, and
for the past couple of years has shown very positive results
on septoria and anthracnose." That was Danny Stanaland with
the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, who
adds the fungicide PhoPhyte is expected to receive a full label
for control of leaf spot pathogens in blueberrries. Results
of this research will help provide a total savings of around
$195,000 for blueberry producers in Bacon County, and a total
savings of around $455,000 for the blueberry industry 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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| Dry
September Hurts 2005 Peanut Crop |
1:34 |
A late season slump will drop
yields from Georgia's 2005 peanut crop. |
Georgia was expected to
have a near record peanut harvest this fall, thanks to plenty
of timely rains this summer. But mother nature turned off the
rain in late August, and a dry September with very little rainfall
has lowered expectations. John Beasley, a scientist with the
University of Georgia's College of Agricultural and Environmental
Sciences says despite a drop off in the yield forecast, Georgia's
2005 peanut crop should still be a good one. "I still think
we're going to have a pretty decent crop when all is said and
done but certainly nowhere near the 3,000 pound plus yield we
had last year and what was projected as 3,100 pound crop at
the first of September." John Beasley with the College of Agricultural
and Environmental Sciences. The tomato spotted wilt virus has
also hit peanuts hard in 2005. Reports from the Georgia peanut
belt indicate tomato spotted wilt virus is the worse it has
been since the late nineties. A significant amount of peanuts
were planted late, because of cool, wet conditions this spring.
Weather conditions over the next few weeks will determine the
yield potential of these peanuts. 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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