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| This Week's Titles: |
| Study
Economic Facts And Figures Before Going Into Ethanol Production |
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Reducing Problems With
Chiggers |
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| Bringing
Back The Beauty Of A Historical Garden |
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| New
Assistant Dean For Extension Named |
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| Controlling
Varroa Mites In Honeybees |
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| Study
Economic Facts And Figures Before Going Into Ethanol Production |
1:40 |
A lot of questions must still
be answered about the profitability of ethanol production in
Georgia. |
With fuel prices showing
no signs of dropping, many people think ethanol and other alternative
fuels can ease consumer gas pains. Plans are currently being
made to construct several ethanol production plants in Georgia.
Audrey Luke-Morgan, an agricultural economist with the University
of Georgia's College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences
says farmers and others interested in producing ethanol need
to look at all the factors and numbers before making a commitment
to ethanol. "Look at the numbers and really analyze it before
they get into it and make sure that they realize the impacts
with increasing corn prices and other input prices. Make sure
you look into it and really determine the economic feasibility
before you move forward." Audrey Luke-Morgan with the College
of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, who adds other alternative
feedstock sources have also been considered for ethanol production,
including potatoes and sweet potatoes. Results from several
studies indicate ethanol plants could operate at profitable
levels in Georgia. Two factors that will determine the profit
margin are high ethanol sale prices and low corn costs. 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
Problems With Chiggers |
1:48 |
Tiny creatures that are hard
to see can cause a whole lot of itching and scratching. |
Every year home gardeners
sweat out a tough fight, as they try to keep insect pests from
eating away snap beans, squash, and other vegetables. But an
entomologist with the University of Georgia's College of Agricultural
and Environmental Sciences say when tiny mites called chiggers
see you and other gardeners, they see dinner. He adds chiggers
are found in wooded areas near a garden site. "They are around
our yards more than in the garden itself, a garden that's been
rota-tilled doesn't typically have problems. It's the vegetation
along the creek bank, or on the edge of the woods is where they
are typically more trouble. When a homeowner tries to clear
property or clear woodlands, push back the edge of the brush
around their yard, that's when they're most likely to have problems
with them." That was Elmer Gray with the College of Agricultural
and Environmental Sciences. To reduce the chances of becoming
a chigger meal, keep vegetation cut short near the yard or garden
site. Walking trails should be mowed to less than ankle height.
Insect repellants are also on the market that will offer protection
from chiggers. For bare skin, use products that contain DEET,
so chiggers won't feast on you. 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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| Bringing
Back THe Beauty Of A Historical Garden |
1:41 |
A group of people in Southeast
Georgia are working to restore the beauty of a historic site. |
The LeConte -Woodmanston
Rice Plantation in Liberty County is part of the National Register
of Historic Places. During the nineteenth century, a botanical
and floral garden became known throughout the world. But through
the years neglect and vandalism took it's toll, and the once
famous botanical gardens became a distant memory. In 2008, the
LeConte-Woodmanston Foundation took up the challenge of restoring
some of the plantation. Robert Bell, a county extension agent
in Liberty County says the foundation rolled up it's sleeves,
and is ready for the hard work that lies ahead. "Course as you
can imagine over the years a lot of different weeds have grown
into the areas. So we are weeding out the area and actually
trying to locate some of those plant varieties that was originally
located in the garden so we can try to re-establish it back
to it's original luster." Robert Bell with the University of
Georgia's College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences,
who adds this effort involves a search of the entire country
to locate original plant specimens for the garden. Master Gardeners
in Liberty County have provided more than six-hundred forty
hours of community service, and traveled about eleven-hundred
miles in an effort to restore the beauty of the historic LeConte-Woodmanston
Plantation. John Harell, 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
Assistant Dean For Extension Named |
1:35 |
The University of Georgia Cooperative
Extension has a new assistant dean. |
Following a nationwide search,
Dr. Steve Brown was named the assistant dean for the University
of Georgia Cooperative Extension. Dr. Brown has been with the
University of Georgia's College of Agricultural and Environmental
Sciences for eighteen years, as a professor of entomology. For
the past two years, years he has been the interim assistant
dean over the University of Georgia's Tifton Campus. Dr. Scott
Angle, dean and director of the University of Georgia's College
of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences says the new assistant
dean will be heavily involved with agriculture. "Well his primary
job will be in the agricultural area to develop programs that
we will then transfer to our extension agents around the state
to deliver the information to the people that need it. He's
been doing this for a long time, he's a very popular administrator,
he's attentive to detail, has great knowledge, and just a great
relationship with the agricultural community, so he'll be a
real asset for extension." Dr. Scott Angle with the College
of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, who adds Dr. Brown
is an expert on insect control in stored grains, peanuts, and
cottonseed. The new assistant dean for the University of Georgia
Cooperative Extension will officially begin his new job on April
1. 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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| Controlling
Varroa Mites In Honeybees |
1:47 |
College scientists are making
progress in solving a problem that bites into honey bees, and
the honey industry. |
Varroa mites continue to
be the number one problem for beekeepers in Georgia, and around
the world. These mites develop inside the cell of a living honeybee,
and eventually causes the bee to die. Pesticides are available
to control varroa mites, but treating with chemicals could also
kill bees inside the hive. Scientists with the University of
Georgia's College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences
are working on a kinder, gentler way to knock out varroa mites,
but not the bees. "For instance we know we can slow mites down
simply by the choice of the hive floor that we use. The traditional
hive floor is just a solid piece of wood, but we've been developing
floors that are made of screen mesh. And this open floor slows
down the rate of mite population growth. There's also very strong
evidence that honeybees can be bred for genetic resistance."
That was Keith Delaplane with the College of Agricultural and
Environmental Sciences. Results from the research have been
positive, and scientists believe they are close to finding control
techniques that provide effective control of varroa mites. Since
this is still a tough problem, the bee industry needs to base
their management decisions on reliable, official research..
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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