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| This Week's Titles: |
| Some
Insects Like To Eat Pine Pollen |
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Addressing High Nitrate
Levels In Hay Crops |
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| Stopping
An Armyworm Invasion In Central Georgia |
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| Help
Garden Sites With A Cover Crop |
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| Georgia
Now Under A La Nina Watch |
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| Some
Insects Like To Eat Pine Pollen |
1:36 |
For a group of insect pests,
pine pollen is like manna from heaven. |
Most people turn their noses
up at pine pollen, when it adds a yellow color to their cars
or patios. But studies have indicated a dusting of pine pollen
on the leaves of certain crops could increase the reproductive
potential of some insects called thrips. Scientists with the
University of Georgia's College of Agricultural and Environmental
Sciences say at least ten species of thrips have the potential
to spread serious diseases, including the tomato spotted wilt
virus. If they fill their bellies on pine pollen, a bad situation
could get much worse, especially during a drought. "They typically
are worse in a drought year and that's one of the observations
that we were thinking was related to pollen was when you get
a rainy March, when all this pollen shed is occurring, you tend
to have less of a problem with thrips and also you tend to less
problems with tomato spotted wilt. So we think that it is a
key factor in predicting thrips and tomato spotted wilt." That
was David Riley with the College of Agricultural and Environmental
Sciences. Research has found that a dusting of pine pollen could
increase the reproduction potential of thrips on tobacco, peanuts,
and other host plants of tomato spotted wilt virus, and increase
the potential of these insects to spread the virus. 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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| Addressing
High Nitrate Levels In Hay Crops |
1:44 |
Efforts in a South Georgia
county kept a deadly problem from getting worse. |
During a drought, cattlemen
worry about high nitrate levels in hay crops and peanut hay.
Animals fed this high nitrate hay will become sick, or die.
In Telfair County, a program was presented to cattlemen on nitrate
poisoning, and the best way to address the problem. Jack Wall,
a county extension agent in Telfair County says the training
was needed, since problems with high levels of nitrate increase
during a drought. "Well it's been particular because of the
drought is the reason that you run into nitrate poisoning is
because that plant has not utilized that nitrogen that has been
applied. It has not used it thus it's still retained in the
plant and once again once that grass is cut, that hay is cut
that nitrate content within the plant is still extremely high.
And when you run into those high nitrate contents within that
plant then you get nitrate poisoning." Jack Wall with the University
of Georgia's College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.
Following the presentation, cattle farmers in Telfair County
submitted many hay samples for nitrate testing. The number one
goal of these efforts is to prevent any cows or horses from
dying from nitrate poisoning. 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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| Stopping
An Armyworm Invasion In Central Georgia |
1:34 |
A Central Georgia county developed
a defense plan to prevent a destructive insect from marching
through forage crops. |
In 2006, farmers in Lamar
County were fighting a losing battle with armyworms. These insects
were causing a lot of damage in hay fields and pastures. Keith
Lassiter, a county extension agent in Lamar County says a lot
of growers wanted to know how to identify armyworms, and get
them under control. "We scouted the hay fields and the pastures
and identified the armyworm. And then they began to implement
strategies to try to control the armyworms either with insecticides.
Or in hayfield situations many times they would go in and cut
the hay crop and bale it as soon as they could." That was Keith
Lassiter with the University of Georgia's College of Agricultural
and Environmental Sciences. Around fifty-five farmers in Lamar
County were educated on identifying and controlling fall armyworms.
This involved scouting about sixty-five hundred acres of forages
in the county. Most of the producers that took part in the training
were able to harvest one extra cutting of hay. This cutting
produced around twenty-three hundred tons of hay valued at $138,000.
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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| Help
Garden Sites With A Cover Crop |
1:36 |
A cover crop can help a garden
site be ready for that spring garden in 2008. |
After a summer of battling
drought conditions and picking vegetables, many gardeners want
to give their garden site a rest, while they cool down. Bob
Westerfield, a horticulturist with the University of Georgia's
College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences says help
that garden area rest up by planting a cover crop. " By tilling
it in and planting a cover crop, you're introducing another
grass or legume into that soil which probably will not have
any major pests. And then later on down the road when you till
it in and get ready for the spring garden, you're actually putting
organic matter which releases nutrients and builds the soil
for your spring garden." Bob Westerfield with the College of
Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, who adds some excellent
legumes include clover or winter peas. The ideal time to plant
a cover crop is between late September and early October after
soil temperatures cool down. The best thing about planting cover
crops is they're nearly pest-free, and maintenance free. A cover
crop gives a bright, green contrast when surrounding fields
and lawns may be brown and dormant. Clover also produces an
attractive display of flowers in the spring. 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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| Georgia
Now Under A La Nina Watch |
1:45 |
The chances are now higher
Georgia will come under the effects of a La Nina climate pattern
this fall and winter. |
In mid-September Georgia,
Florida, and Alabama were put under a La Nina watch. This means
conditions in the tropical Pacific Ocean are more favorable
for this La Nina pattern to develop. David Stooksbury, the state
climatologist and professor of engineering at the University
of Georgia says this is not good news for a state trying to
recover from the latest drought. "Historically for Georgia,
particularly for South and Central Georgia, this has meant a
warm and dry winter. It is not good when we're in the middle
of a drought. We depend on winter rains to recharge soil moisture,
groundwater, and reservoirs. However, if we have a dry winter
we may not receive the recharge that is needed for next summer."
David Stooksbury with the University of Georgia's College of
Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, who adds scientists
and climatologists won't officially confirm a La Nina pattern
until all the data and figures are collected in October. But
the Chances are excellent the next La Nina climate pattern will
develop this fall, which means the drought will continue well
into 2008. 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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