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| This Week's Titles: |
| IRS
Makes Direct Deposit Change |
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Keep Foods On Holiday Buffets
Safe |
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| Gift
Ideas For Family Gardeners |
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| Pecan
Crop Down, But Nut Quality Good |
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| University
Gets Help Fighting Termites |
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| IRS
Makes Direct Deposit Change |
1:50 |
Beginning in 2007, Uncle Sam
will change the way income tax refunds can be direct deposited |
As the holiday season begins
winding down, you get a reminder from Uncle Sam that the income
tax season is about to begin. Some people actually look forward
to filing their income taxes, since they know they will receive
a refund. Michael Rupured, a consumer economic specialist with
the University of Georgia's College of Family and Consumer Sciences
says beginning this income tax filing year, the IRS is making
a change in it's direct deposit policies. This change means
deposit options are not limited to one account. "Consumers will
have the opportunity if you're receiving a refund, to have it
deposited in more than one account. In the past when you used
direct deposit you had to place all of your money into one account
and most consumers would use their checking account. The reason
behind this is to try to encourage filers to save more of their
tax refunds so you can use form 8888 beginning this filing season
to split your refund into more than one account." Michael Rupured
with the College of Family and Consumer Sciences, who adds this
new policy allows some of the money to be deposited in a savings
account or a certificate of deposit. Those that want to deposit
some of their income tax refund into a mutual fund should check
with the company and see if they have a routing number and account
number, to allow a portion of the refund to be direct deposited.
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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| Keep
Foods On Holiday Buffets Safe |
1:45 |
Don't let a holiday buffet
cause guests to have a sick holiday season. |
During December a lot of
food will be served at Christmas parties and buffets. But a
foods specialist with the University of Georgia's College of
Family and Consumer Sciences says it's important to think food
safety at holiday parties, so small foodborne pathogens won't
cause big problems. She adds it's important to begin preparing
those tasty dishes in a clean work area. "By starting your food
preparation with a sparkling clean work area, clean utensils,
and clean hands. And always wash your food preparation surfaces
with soap and hot water, and then you can use a sanitizing solution
of one tablespoon of bleach, and one quart of water to sanitize
that food preparation surface before you start preparing food."
Judy Harrison with the College of Family and Consumer Sciences.
While holidays are a good time for people and families to come
together, foods should stay separated. Keep raw foods like meats,
poultry, fish, and eggs away from cooked, or ready-to-eat foods.
This prevents harmful bacteria from spreading from one food
to another, which could make people sick with a foodborne illness.
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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| Gift
Ideas For Family Gardeners |
1:30 |
Most family gardeners have
a list of items they would love to find under the tree on Christmas
morning. |
The weather outside may
be cold and frightful, keeping gardeners inside by the fire.
But in a few months spring will bring warmer weather, and gardeners
want to be ready for action. Terry Kelley, a horticulturist
with the University of Georgia's College of Agricultural and
Environmental Sciences says new tools and equipment like shovels,
hoes, and water hoses are excellent gift ideas. There are also
some gifts that can help gardeners stay informed on changing
weather conditions. "For about two-hundred dollars now, you
can buy a professional weather monitoring station. Station can
monitor temperature, humidity, wind speed, rainfall. You can
even upload that information to your personal computer." Terry
Kelley with the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences,
who adds most vegetable gardeners like to can and preserve some
of the fruits of their labor. Their wish list could include
new jars, freezer containers, and even a pressure cooker. Since
vegetable gardeners like to taste the results of their hard
work, they might want Santa to bring a set of new salad utensils,
a chopping board, or a good set of knives this Christmas. 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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| Pecan
Crop Down, But Nut Quality Good |
1:29 |
Despite less nuts, there should
be plenty of good quality pecans to meet the holiday candy demand.
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The latest reports estimate
Georgia's 2006 pecan crop about sixty million pounds. This is
down from one-hundred twenty million pounds last year. Since
last year was a big crop, a shorter crop was expected this year.
Also wet weather last year, followed by drought conditions in
2006 created some challenges. But despite a reduced crop, scientists
with the University of Georgia's College of Agricultural and
Environmental Sciences say the quality of this years pecan crop
is quite good. He adds in most cases, nut quality was good even
in pecan groves that had no irrigation. "There's two reasons.
One the nut was smaller and it's easier for the tree to fill
out a small nut then a large nut, that's one reason. Second
reason it rained in those critical two weeks of September. So
you have small nuts but high quality and overall the quality
is very very good." That was Darrell Sparks with the College
of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, who adds dry weather
also reduced disease pressure on this year's crop. Despite a
decrease in the 2006 pecan crop, there should be plenty of good
quality pecans available for shoppers at stores, as they purchase
their candy and other goodies for the Christmas season. 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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| University
Gets Help FIghting Termites |
1:46 |
University of Georgia scientists
recently got some help fighting termites and other tough insect
pests. |
Many homeowners in Georgia
have been victims of termites, as these destructive insects
ate away at their homes. Termite damage and control costs in
Georgia exceed $125 million annually. Recently, the University
received a $90,000 research grant, to help fund research efforts.
Brian Forschler, an entomologist with the University of Georgia's
College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences says the
funding goes toward performing field research and hiring postdoctoral
associates, graduate assistants, and student workers. He adds
funding over the years has helped scientists learn some interesting
things about termites. "Termite biology is one of the main thrusts
of the research program here, has been for fifteen years. The
average termite spends seventy-five percent of its day sleeping,
basically standing around doing nothing. And that they acquire
food by one of three methods, and only one of those is chewing
on wood. The other two-thirds of the food that a termite swallows
comes from his brothers and sisters." Brian Forschler with the
College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. Through
the Department of Agriculture, pest-control operators' support
helps university scientists help the pest-control people, who
protect Georgia homes. Relationships like that are taking a
big part in the fight against termites. 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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