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| This Week's Titles: |
| Celebrating
Rural Georgia Developed |
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Long Range Weather Outlook
Remains Dry And warm |
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| Reducing
Energy Costs On Poultry Farms |
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| Storing
Water In A Rain Barrel |
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| Getting
Home Heating Systems Ready For Winter |
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| Celebrating
Rural Georgia Developed |
1:47 |
Findings from a study conducted
by college scientists has found rural Georgia is alive and well. |
Celebrating Rural Georgia
is a program that brings together public and private groups
committed to the improvement of rural Georgia. One of the primary
services is the hosting of a biennial Celebrating Rural Georgia
Conference. Sharon Kane, a food business development specialist
with the University of Georgia's College of Agricultural and
Environmental Sciences says this conference is a opportunity
for Georgian's to celebrate and share success stories in rural
Georgia. She adds a session about a crystal ball was well attended.
"The theme about reading a crystal ball is really just a laughing
reference to forecasting the future which of course we really
can't do but we really wanted to be able to talk to these communities
about how there's so much information out there, and just being
able to tap into it and find out more information about their
communities." Sharon Kane with the College of Agricultural and
Environmental Sciences. More than 650 people attended the last
Celebrating Rural Georgia Conference in 2006, to learn how to
improve community and business development in rural Georgia.
Some early plans are already being made for the next Celebrating
Rural Georgia Conference, which will be held in 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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| Long
Range Weather Outlook Remains Dry And Warm |
1:50 |
The long range outlook is for
Georgia to remain dry and thirsty during the fall and winter. |
Reports from the tropical
Pacific Ocean indicate water temperatures are much colder than
normal. This means the developing La Nina pattern will persist,
and could even get stronger during the fall and winter. A La
Nina climate pattern normally brings above normal temperatures,
and below normal rainfall to much of Georgia and the Southeast.
David Stooksbury, the state climatologist and professor of engineering
at the University of Georgia says a dry winter is a concern,
but it could lead to very serious problems next spring and summer.
"I think with proper conservation, proper use of water, that
we can muddle through the winter. But next spring and summer,
the situation, if we do not get adequate recharge this winter,
could become dire for many Georgian's with many of our smaller
water systems running out of water, wells going dry, and very
restrictive water use requirements across much of the state."
David Stooksbury with the College of Agricultural and Environmental
Sciences, who adds winter rainfall is needed to recharge surface
and groundwater sources in Georgia and the Southeast. Even with
normal rainfall, drought conditions are likely to continue in
North Georgia. Wildfires will also be a concern, since research
has shown a La Nina pattern normally leads to an active wildfire
season in Florida and South 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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| Reducing
Energy Costs On Poultry Farms |
1:35 |
College scientists are working
to help Georgia's poultry industry peck away at energy costs. |
The poultry industry continues
to grow in Georgia. But rising energy prices are making it hard
for poultry producers to make a profit. Scientists with the
University of Georgia's College of Agricultural and Environmental
Sciences are working with poultry farmers to find solutions
that will save fuel and improve energy efficiency. Much of the
work involves renovating and improving poultry facilities. "What
we are recommending most strongly at this point is conserving
on energy. Better insulation, better construction techniques
and there's several technologies available for improving the
energy efficiency of the houses we've got. We've got some practices
that can be installed that can reduce LP gas usage by forty
to fifty percent, depending on the house." That was John Worley
with the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.
The primary impact of this program is to reduce energy expenses
for poultry producers, and make them more efficient. But the
research will help all Georgian's reap the benefits of reduced
usage of energy resources, and a reduction in greenhouse gases.
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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| Storing
Water In A Rain Barrel |
1:32 |
Rain on the roof can help drought
stressed landscape plants get a drink of water. |
The severe drought the state
is experiencing is making Georgian's realize every drop of water
is precious. Scientists with the University of Georgia's College
of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences say you can gather
some extra water by storing rainwater, as it runs off the roof
in a rain barrel. "Yes, I recommend for folks that have some
special plants in particular or have container plants that they
want to keep watered to keep a little color in their landscape,
to get rain barrels and set those rain barrels under their down
spouts of their gutter system on their house and capture that
storm water." That was Rose Mary Seymour with the College of
Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. Before using an old
barrel that was sitting around in a storage shed, make sure
it has not been used to store toxic chemicals, or any other
hazardous material. Include a protective screen on a rain barrel,
so mosquitoes will have a hard time breeding in the standing
water. Several web sites are available on the internet Georgian's
can visit if they are interested in purchasing rain barrels
to save precious rainwater that falls on the roof. 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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| Getting
Home Heating Systems Ready For Winter |
1:41 |
Make sure those home heating
systems are ready to take the chill out of those winter cold
snaps. |
During November old man
winter begins to knock on the door, with some parts of the state
experiencing the first freeze of the season. Pamela Turner,
a housing specialist with the University of Georgia's College
of Family and Consumer Sciences says some small but important
steps are making sure the gas is turned on. Georgian's that
have not had propane gas tanks filled should get them filled
as soon as possible. She adds it's also important to let a professional
inspect a system, to correct small problems before they become
serious. "Is it gas, or electric, heat pump, there's a lot of
different factors to think about. But having a professional
come and service it and check it make sure it works properly,
that's probably the most important thing you can do. It'll be
a well spent, whatever the fee is to hire that professional."
Pamela Turner with the College of Family and Consumer Sciences,
who adds it's important to make sure all homes have proper ventilation,
to reduce the threat of carbon monoxide. Kerosene heaters without
proper ventilation also increase the threat of carbon monoxide.
To further reduce the threat of carbon monoxide, all homes should
have a carbon monoxide detector that will alert homeowners if
the heating system malfunctions, and causes a buildup of this
dangerous gas. 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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