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| This Week's Titles: |
| Consider
Economic Factors Before Abandoning Cotton |
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Small Worms Have Fishy
Benefits |
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| Teaching
The Dangers Of Pesticides |
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| Helping
Minority Poultry Producers In North Georgia |
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| Outdoor
Classroom Teaches Students About The Environment |
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| Consider
Economic Factors Before Abandoning Cotton |
1:44 |
There are several economic
issues farmers need to consider before they throw in the towel
on their 2006 cotton crop. |
The latest reports indicate
around 70,000 acres of Georgia's 2006 cotton crop will not be
harvested, which is about five percent. Despite recent scattered
thunderstorms that brought some relief, many growers feel they
will lose more money if they try to hang on until harvest. Don
Shurley, an agricultural economist with the University of Georgia's
College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences says check
with an insurance adjuster before making a decision on abandoning
a cotton crop. "First and foremost you have to look at your
crop insurance coverage. You need to contact your crop insurance
provider, have them have an adjuster come out and make a yield
estimate on the crop. Based on that yield estimate and based
on your crop insurance coverage, you then look at what additional
costs that you're going to have to incur if you do produce the
crop. Any costs that might be saved obviously if you were to
walk away from it at this point." Don Shurley with the College
of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. Other things to
consider before making a decision include defoliation expenses,
and the cost of harvesting the crop. If the farmer is willing
to accept the yield from the insurance appraiser, the crop may
be abandoned, destroyed, or put into grazing, and the claim
will be settled. 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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| Small
Worms Have Fishy Benefits |
1:29 |
Some small caterpillars that
feed on a certain tree can have fishy benefits. |
Many people in Georgia
have a catalpa tree in their yard. Each summer horned caterpillars
called catalpa worms move into these trees and nibble on the
leaves. Nancy Hinkle, an entomologist with the University of
Georgia's College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences
says catalpa worms will not harm the trees. There's also no
need to try to control them, because fishermen will claim them
to use as fish bait. "While the catalpa worm can almost completely
defoliate a catalpa tree, this is not considered a problem.
In the South we consider catalpa worms valuable because they
make wonderful fish bait." Nancy Hinkle with the College of
Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, who adds catalpa worms
have big appetites, and sometimes defoliate the same tree three
times per summer. A feature of the catalpa worm that stands
out is the little tail-like horn on its rear end. The worms
are typically white with black splotches, but some can be black
in color with yellow or white stripes running down the sides.
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
The Dangers Of Pesticides |
1:37 |
A University of Georgia program
is teaching migrant workers the dangers of pesticides. |
Many of the state's migrant
workers spend their days working with vegetables and row crops
on farms across the state. To stay ahead of insects, diseases,
and weeds, they must handle pesticide products. But specialists
with the University of Georgia's College of Family and Consumer
Sciences say these workers could take some of the chemicals
home on their clothes. This means extra precautions need to
be taken when the time arrives to wash clothes. "Family laundry
has to be washed separately from the farm worker laundry. The
main issue that we're looking at is the transference of pesticides
from the farm worker clothing to family clothing and also how
the farm worker deals with their clothing and themselves when
they first come home from the field." That was Sharon Gibson
with the College of Family and Consumer Sciences. To help migrant
workers protec themselves and their families, the University
of Georgia Cooperative Extension will begin a bilingual outreach
program that teaches migrant workers how simple precautions
and laundering techniques can reduce the health risks associated
with pesticide exposures. 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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| Helping
Minority Poultry Producers In North Georgia |
1:31 |
A North Georgia county helped
some minority poultry producers overcome several challenges. |
The poultry industry is
crowing loud and well in Jackson County, with producers doing
their part to keep poultry production strong. These include
several minority poultry farmers. Mark Shirley, a county extension
agent in Jackson County says these producers had to overcome
several challenges once they became involved in the poultry
industry. "They were not aware of all the requirements and regulations
that they were going to have to meet and how to meet them, understanding
the ramifications of the regulations and then also the language
barrier and then trying to interpret for them what the nutrient
management plan meant and how they had to adhere to it." Mark
Shirley with the University of Georgia's College of Agricultural
and Environmental Sciences. The minority producers also learned
about the importance of keeping accurate records of manure and
forage production. Later, an updated Comprehensive Nutrient
Management Plan for the producers was sent to the Department
of Agriculture for review. After three revisions, the plan was
officially approved. 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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| Outdoor
Classroom Teaches Students About The Environment |
1:42 |
A North Georgia county is using
the outdoors as a classroom, to teach students how to take care
of water and the forests. |
Many people travel to the
North Georgia mountains to enjoy the sights and sounds of green
forests, and fresh water splashing down from a waterfall. With
the population increasing in the mountain counties, there are
fears clean mountain water and green trees may soon be lost
for good. About three years ago, a program began in Union County
to teach students in the sixth, seventh, and eighth grade on
the importance of preserving the counties natural resources.
Mickey Cummings, a county extension agent in Union County says
the hands on learning outside helps the students put into practice
what they learn in the classroom. "We have one regarding water
with eighth grade, we do one regarding forestry with seventh
grade, and we do a combination of water and soil with our sixth
grade, and what we're trying to do is just give them as much
hands on learning as possible to reinforce what they're being
taught in the classrooms." Mickey Cummings with the University
of Georgia's College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.
About six hundred students in Union County take part in this
important training every year. Teachers in the schools said
they were impressed with the outdoor experience, and they were
able to see students put into practice the things they learned
in the classrooms. 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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