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| This Week's Titles: |
| Teaching
Children The Importance Of A Healthy Lifestyle |
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More Is Better When Conducting
Research On Black Fly Control |
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| University
Students Learn About Protecting The Nation's Food Supply |
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| University
Helps Growers Form Co-ops |
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| Don't
Let Diseases And Insect Pests Mess Up That Spring Garden |
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| Teaching
Children The Importance Of A Healthy Lifestyle |
1:30 |
Children in a Northeast Georgia
county are getting some early lessons about the importance of
a healthy lifestyle. |
Reports indicate about 6,700
Georgian's die each year because they are overweight or obese.
There are also concerns about the increasing number of children
that are losing the battle of the bulge. In Hart County a Healthy
Lifestyles program took place to help fourth grade students
learn about the health risks of being overweight. Brandi Shiflet,
a county extension agent in Hart County says fourth graders
learned the importance of eating right, and physical activity.
"Our lessons focused on the new food pyramid, the importance
of physical activity, the importance of eating breakfast, serving
sizes, and the different nutrients, and why they are important."
Brandi Shiflet with the University of Georgia's College of Agricultural
and Environmental Sciences, who adds these important lessons
were delivered to more than three-hundred fourth graders in
Hart County. After completing the program, more than half the
students were able to plan a healthy breakfast by using the
guidelines they learned in the training. Plans are being made
to conduct another Healthy Lifestyles program for fourth graders
in Hart County later this year. 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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| More
Is Better When Conducting Research On Black Fly Control |
1:38 |
College scientists have found
more is better as they work to control a tiny insect pest. |
In parts of the U.S. bites
from black flies can cause pain and welts. In Africa a black
fly bite could lead to blindness. In Georgia, black flies are
similar to gnats, because they swarm around the faces and eyes
of people, but they do not bite. Scientists with the University
of Georgia's College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences
developed a black fly colony, to aid with their research. The
purpose of the colony is to develop a bio-control agent to apply
to black flies on streams and rivers, where they breed and develop.
"Well the research we do helps the company develop the best
product possible for controlling the larvae in the rivers and
streams. So we are involved from that standpoint of helping
develop the biological control agent to be as good or better
than the hard chemicals that were used in years past." That
was Elmer Gray with the College of Agricultural and Environmental
Sciences. Keeping the black fly colony alive and healthy is
a major component of testing the effectiveness of the bio-control
agent in controlling the pest. Knowing how much to apply to
black fly populations will enable groups like the World Health
Organization to control the flies instead of treating people
for the problems these tiny insects cause. John Harrell, University
of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences,
reporting |
Links to audio files:
(files include a brief quote from the source for your use.)
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| University
Students Learn About Protecting The Nation's Food Supply |
1:44 |
An undergraduate class at the
University of Georgia is providing students food for thought
in a dangerous time. |
Since nine-eleven there
have been growing concerns about a terrorist attack on the nation's
food supply. A course called "Terror and the Food Supply" helps
students learn the strengths of the nations's food system. They
also work to find its weaknesses through mock terrorist attacks.
Nick Hill, a scientist with the University of Georgia's College
of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences says the course covers
several critical issues that prepare students if an attack occurs.
"Understanding who would likely conduct the attacks, and then
what the impact would have on our society, it's not just farm
economy but the greater economy, political stability, economic
impact on a national level, all that goes into this course.
In the event that we do have an attack these people are going
to be mid-level managers that are going to be in charge of a
response to those types of attacks." Nick Hill with the College
of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. The class is the
first offered in the University of Georgia certificate program
in agrosecurity. The University of Georgia is the only university
in the U.S. that offers a program that features a comprehensive
study of the plant, animal, and food industries in relation
to policy and food system security. 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
Helps Growers Form Co-ops |
1:37 |
Thanks to a center at the University
of Georgia, producers across the state are teaming up to put
more money in their pockets. |
Since 2004 the University
of Georgia Cooperative Development Center has been helping agricultural
producers in the state form co-ops. A co-op is a group of self-governing
producers who come together to achieve similar goals through
a jointly owned enterprise. The purpose could be to expand new
or existing market opportunities, or to improve product quality.
Tommie Shepherd, an agricultural economist with the University
of Georgia's College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences
says the center has helped several successful co-ops get started.
"We have worked with a variety of co-ops, several of those have
been in the area of fruits and vegetables. We've helped to put
together a co-op of sweet corn growers in Baker County, Georgia
that's operating successfully. We are currently working with
a co-op of chestnut growers in South Georgia and North Florida.
We're also working with a co-op of horse stable owners in metro-Atlanta."
Tommie Shepherd with the College of Agricultural and Environmental
Sciences. The Cooperative Development Center helps agricultural
producers think more as businessmen, and businesswomen, and
to work toward a common goal. They learn about the financial
and economic aspects, as well as the management side of the
business. 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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| Don't
Let Diseases And Insect Pests Mess UP That Spring Garden |
1:40 |
Don't let disease and insect
pests feast on vegetables in that spring garden. |
Home gardeners love to get
out in the warm weather and get their hands dirty in their spring
garden. But several insects and diseases would like to get into
that garden and make a big mess. Bob Westerfield, a horticulturist
with the University of Georgia's College of Agricultural and
Environmental Sciences says a disease familiar to farmers and
commercial vegetable growers can also invade home gardens, and
make tomatoes very sick. "Also have to be real careful on the
tomatoes to watch for viruses, particularly spotted wilt virus
will show up a little bit later. Usually it looks like a discoloration
of the leaves and some concentric rings on the tomatoes themselves
as they begin to form up." Bob Westerfield with the College
of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, who adds there are
no chemicals to control the spotted wilt virus. The best action
to take is remove infected plants and get them away from the
garden site. Other diseases that could cause problems include
leaf anthracnose and early blight. Some insects to watch out
for include aphids, flea beetles, and cutworms. The university
scientist reminds gardeners regular scouting is the best way
to protect plants and vegetables from insect and disease pressure.
If a problem is found it can be treated early before it has
a chance to take over the garden. 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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