Georgia Ag June 12 Edition

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Georgia

AGNews

Inside When to pick tomatoes Page 6 Build a greenhouse Page 7 Wildlife areas Page 10 Georgia DNR app Page 12

North Georgia’s Agricultural Newspaper

Fr

ee

JULY 2012

SUMMER’S HERE!

Get outside, have fun, but be safe

By Barbara Olejnik Georgia Ag News Staff bolejnik@poultrytimes.net

GAINESVILLE — Summer is in full swing and the Fourth of July is almost here. That means its time for picnics, barbecues, fireworks, dips in the pool and outings on Lake Lanier.

But it also means its time to do a check on safety to ensure that all these activities will be fun and enjoyable.

Photo courtesy National Chicken Council

Grilling chicken: When enjoying summertime meals, like grilled chicken or burgers, be sure to follow safety steps when operating the grill, as well as cooking to the right temperature.

Food safety For picnics or for any food prepared and eaten outdoors, the USDA lists the four primary safety steps to be followed — Clean, Separate, Cook and Chill.

Clean: First, start with clean surfaces and clean hands. Hands should be washed with soap and warm water for 20 seconds before and after handling food.

Also make sure the surfaces that come in contact with raw and cooked foods are clean before starting to cook and are washed frequently.

Separate: Raw meats and poultry should be prepared separately from vegetables and cooked foods.

Also use separate cutting boards form meats and veggies.

Cook: Always use a food thermometer when cooking. Color is not a reliable indicator of doneness.

Whole cuts of pork, lamb, veal, and beef should be cooked to 145 degrees F as measured by a food thermometer placed in the thickest part of the meat, followed by a three-minute rest time before carving or consuming. Hamburgers and other ground beef should reach 160 degrees F. All poultry should reach a minimum temperature of 165 degrees F. Fish should be cooked to 145 degrees F. Fully cooked meats like hot dogs should be grilled to 165 degrees F or until steaming hot.

Chill: Perishable food should never sit out more than two hours. If the temperature is higher than 90 degrees, food should not sit out more than one hour.

See Safety, Page 12

Red, white and blueberries

By David B. Strickland Georgia Ag News Staff

dstrickland@poultrytimes.net

GAINESVILLE — Some of the signs of summer include hot dogs on the grill, baseball, outdoor fun in the intense Georgia heat — and blueberries.

Blueberry season is here and the time is right to enjoy these tasty and nutritious little treats.

These “Little Blue Dynamos®,” as they are referred to by the U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council, are packed with antioxidants like vitamin C, man-

ganese, vitamin K, vitamin B6, as well as dietary fiber.

Georgia has two blueberry seasons every year. The first one is in approximately April, and another is in May/ June. These seasons are made up of the two main varieties of production blueberries in Georgia — Southern Highbush is the April/May harvest; and Rabbiteye has a May/July harvest, notes the Georgia Blueberry Commission.

According to a report by the University of Georgia, both harvests this year

bloomed early.

Scott NeSmith, a blueberry horticulturalist with the UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences at the Griffin campus, noted that the state’s blueberries were, “historically early . . . off-the-charts early.”

For the first harvest, this suffered a loss because of a late season freeze and migrating birds claiming a large piece Photo by David B. Strickland of the crop. But the second blueberry season is performing well, and the state Feeling blue?: Unlike broilers and peanuts, Georgia is on track to produce approximately may not be the number one producer of blueberries, but

See Berries, Page 12

they are certainly a very significant part of the state’s agricultural production.

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GEORGIA AG NEWS, July 2012

Markets make supporting local farmers easy

By Steven Thomas

Special to Georgia Ag News

GAINESVILLE — All across Georgia, people are rediscovering a desire for fresh, locally grown fruits and vegetables. Farmers markets are springing up in towns and cities at an astounding rate. It seems that every community wants their own farmers Thomas market — and Hall County has three.

Beginning each May with cool weather crops, such as lettuces and peas, and continuing through the growing season to October’s harvest of potatoes and pumpkins, residents can enjoy the bounty produced by local farmers and offered at farmers markets across the county.

Since 1973, Hall County residents have been able to obtain local produce at the Hall County Farmers Market. In 2009, a farmers market was started on Gainesville’s Historic Downtown Square. In 2010, a third market opened at the Spout Springs Library in Flowery Branch.

All three markets share one major thing in common — local farmers and vendors who offer value-added products, such as honey, baked goods, jams, and jellies.

Our local farmers work very hard, often in extremely hot and humid weather, growing the wonderful vegetables and fruits we crave.

When selling this produce to regular distributors, wholesale prices are often very low, often just over production costs. By selling directly to the consumer at a farmers market, and eliminating the middleman, farmers are able to get a better price for their products, keeping their farmland viable.

Many farmers need to sell at markets three to six days a week, picking their produce the day before.

With so many farmers markets opening in Gwinnett, Fulton, and other adjacent counties, , it is very important for Hall County residents to support our local farmers.

By giving the farmers a venue in which to sell their products, we can keep our local farmers right here in Hall County. The benefits are numerous. Consumers get fresh produce, baked goods, eggs, honey, and other items. Farmers benefit by having the opportunity to earn retail-level profits by dealing directly with the consumer. Supporting local farmers also helps support the local economy and keep farmland in production.

Purchasing direct from the farmer and vendor is also an educational experience for adults and children. The farmer can tell you exactly what went into growing the produce, when it was picked, and what to do with it once you get it home and into the kitchen.

Vendors can let you know how their products are made. Both can provide a look into how we get our food, and children can learn that what they eat doesn’t grow in the basement of the supermarket.

To help further the educational

Protect your home WIND

“

The farmer can tell you exactly what went into growing the produce, when it was picked, and what to do with it once you get it home and into the kitchen. aspects of our local farmers markets, we will be announcing cooking demonstrations at the Downtown Gainesville Market On The Square in the near future.

Local restaurant chefs and other local cooks, using the produce available from the market, will do these demonstrations. We did these in the past and the response was great, with several people who claimed that they didn’t cook getting excited enough to try the recipes.

Two years ago, the market introduced “Cast-Iron Chef Gainesville,” a cooking competition using market produce that pitted local chefs against each other. This year’s competition will begin in July.

The “town square” has long been the traditional site for a local farmers market. Gainesville’s annual Mule Camp Market, held the second week of October, began years ago as a farmers curb market near the downtown square. Events centered around a town square enhance the quality of life of a community by creating social opportunities to gather and interact with our neighbors, local merchants, and of course, farmers. The Downtown Gainesville Market On The Square is now located on the square, under the shady trees and watched over by the statue of Old Joe.

This year, the market is also hosting a variety of local craftspeople, with handmade and homemade goods including soap, crocheted clothing items and folk art. Through the market season, more craftspeople may be added as they find out about the market.

A major benefit of the Friday market is to bring awareness of, and foot traffic to, the downtown business area.

The Downtown Gainesville Market On The Square is located on the square in downtown Gainesville.

Market hours are every Friday afternoon through October, from 2:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. or sellout.

The Hall County Farmers Market first opened in 1973 and moved to its current location 16 years ago.

The market is located at the corner of Jesse Jewell Parkway and East Crescent Drive near I-985, Exit 24, and is open every Tuesday from 6 a.m. to sellout and Saturday from 7 a.m. to sellout, which is usually around noon.

The Spout Springs Library Farmers Market is located in the parking lot of the library at 6488 Spout Springs Road in Flowery Branch, and is open every Thursday from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. or sellout.

Both the Hall County Farmers Market and the Downtown Gaines-

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Steven Thomas is market manager of the Historic Downtown Gainesville Market on the Square. He can be reached at 678-943-4442; by email at steve@hallfarmers.org; or the web site http://www.hallfarmers.org.

N.C. has new honey rules for markets The Associated Press

RAIN

ville Market On The Square only allow farmers and vendors that have grown or produced the items themselves. No items are purchased from other sources and resold at the markets. In this way, these markets are places that support local farmers, foster community, and provide a place for residents to find healthy, freshly picked, homegrown produce and value-added products.

All value-added products, such as homemade canned goods, baked goods, candies, and freshly prepared foods are produced in stateapproved, fully licensed kitchens, in full accordance with all state laws.

For more information about all three farmers markets, go to our web site at http://www.hallfarmers. org. There are links for directions, what’s in season, who the vendors are and recipes from previous years.

You can also follow the markets on Facebook at:  The Historic Downtown Gainesville Market On The Square: http://www.facebook.com/ hallfarmers  Hall County Farmers Market: http://www.facebook.com/Hall.

County.Farmers.Market  Spout Springs Library Farmers Market:https://www.facebook. com/SpoutspringsfarmersMarket

RALEIGH, N.C. — North Carolina agriculture officials hope to ensure that honey is labeled correctly with new rules for selling the product at five farmers markets.

The N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services now has rules for selling honey labeled as sourwood or North Carolina. The rules apply to bee-

keepers and vendors at farmers markets in Asheville, Raleigh, Greensboro, Lumberton and Charlotte.

Vendors must keep records with information such as when and where the honey was produced and packaged.

The former president of the N.C. State Beekeepers Association told the Asheville Citizen-Times that sourwood honey can sell for about $12 to $15 a pound, compared to about $4 a pound for other types.

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GEORGIA AG NEWS, July 2012

Statewide organizations promoting agribusiness ATLANTA — Gary W. Black, commissioner of the Georgia Department of Agriculture, and Chris Clark, president and CEO of the Georgia Chamber of Commerce, have announced a new partnership in support of Georgia Grown, the department’s recently redesigned program to support and promote agribusiness throughout the state.

“With the chamber becoming the first Founders Circle sponsor of Georgia Grown, this demonstrates the strong support from the business community for this statewide initiative,” Black said. “This collaboration will help us connect with agribusinesses and communities across the state who would benefit from the Georgia Grown program,

as well as provide new avenues to promote Georgia-based products.”

“Agribusiness is Georgia’s largest and most diverse industry,” Clark said. “Helping the industry remain strong is a critical compo-

nent to our overall competitiveness as a state. We are proud to support this important effort and the many agriculture based companies that call Georgia home.”

Agriculture currently contributes more than $70 billion each year to the state’s economy, and is a cornerstone for many of the state’s smaller and more rural communities, the groups noted. Goals for the new partnership include expanding awareness of the role agriculture plays in the state’s economy and increasing business and consumer interest in the Georgia Grown program.

More information about Georgia Grown can be obtained at http:// www.georgiagrown.com.

Use wood chips, mulch properly

By Michael Wheeler

Special to Georgia Ag News

GAINESVILLE — There have been several questions from people about using fresh wood chips around the yard. These wood chips are collected often by the trimming of trees along power lines.

Concerns have arisen as to the effect, if any, this fresh mulch will have on plants if it is put down as soon as it is chipped.

First is that diseases on the wood could be transferred to ornamental plants. According to some research done at Cornell University, it is very unlikely that the right combination of factors will come together to spread diseases in this Wheeler way. Plants infected by disease must have the pathogen or disease, a host and the right environmental conditions for the infection to spread.

The second concern is that naturally occurring alleopathic chemicals will move directly to your plants and shrubs. This means there are some plants that release a chemical that kills other plants. For instance, a walnut tree to keep competition from other trees secretes a chemical to destroy other plants trying to grow underneath it. Again, research shows this is not a problem with mulch. The bark and fruit of the black walnut contains very little of this chemical. Keep in mind, there

will be very little black walnut wood in most mulch.

Third, there is the concern about the fresh wood chips tying up nitrogen during their breakdown. Recent work at the University of Maryland showed that wood chips have a high carbon to nitrogen ratio and they can cause significant nutrient deficiencies.

In addition, scientists have found that the pH of wood leaches from the wood and could change the soil pH depending on the volume used. The increased acid in the soil could damage the plant and plant roots soon after the mulch is spread. Large trees and plants that like acid soil can survive this better. If fresh wood chips are applied too thick, the heat generated as it begins to compost can also injure plants.

If you can find and use fresh wood chips as mulch, I think it is best to stockpile the chips for three to six months before using them so it can compost. If your pile is large, be sure to turn it several times to make sure plenty of air gets inside. This composting will help to reduce the acidity and heat that could harm your plants.

As a final note: Never apply mulch that is greater than 3 inches thick and keep it away from the plant base about 3 to 5 inches.

Michael Wheeler is the Hall County Extension Coordinator and agricultural Extension agent. He can be reached at 770-535-8293; e-mail at wheelerm@uga. edu; or http://www.hallcounty.org/extension.

USDA reports a 3.5 percent jump in cost to raise a child WASHINGTON — USDA has released its annual report, Expenditures on Children by Families, finding that a middleincome family with a child born in 2011 can expect to spend about $234,900 ($295,560 if projected inflation costs are factored in) for food, shelter and other necessities to raise that child during the next 17 years. This represents a 3.5 percent increase from 2010.

Expenses for transportation, child care, education and food saw the largest percentage increases related to child rearing from 2010.

There were smaller increases in housing, clothing, health care and miscellaneous expenses on a child during the same period.

For the year 2011, annual child-rearing expenses per child for a middle-income, two-parent family ranged from $12,290 to

$14,320, depending on the age of the child.

The report, developed by the USDA Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion, notes that family income affects child rearing costs.

A family earning less than $59,410 per year can expect to spend a total of $169,080 (in 2011 dollars) on a child from birth through high school. Similarly, middle-income parents with an income between $59,410 and $102,870 can expect to spend $234,900; and a family earning more than $102,870 can expect to spend $389,670.

For middle-income families, housing costs are the single largest expenditure on a child, averaging $70,560 or 30 percent of the total cost. Child care and education and food were the next two largest expenses, accounting for 18 and 16 percent of the total cost.

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GEORGIA AG NEWS, July 2012

Georgia

AGNews

Viewpoint

Annual session provides good ‘egg-ucation’

By Jewell Hutto

Special to Georgia Ag News

SUWANEE — In October 1992, I started to work with the Georgia Egg Commission. In May of the following year, the opportunity came for me to attend the National Egg Quality School. To be honest, I was not sure at that time what NEQS stood for, or what to Hutto expect when I attended the school.

Well, I am honored to say that during the last 20 years working with the Georgia Egg Commission there has not been one day when my attending NEQS has not payed off.

I am also honored to serve on the board of directors and to assist in raising support.

The egg industry today faces many challenges, and this is why the National Egg Quality School is so important to our industry.

NEQS continues the same traditions today as it did the day I first became part of its history. Each year in May, the school offers curriculum that is designed for the serious-minded student who is willing to learn as much as possible about egg quality in a concentrated, comprehensive four days. It is an important educational forum for the egg industry because it provides a consistent training program that teaches a standard of quality to industry, regulators and policy makers.

Students receive intensive instructions on all aspects of the egg from its formation to grading, and from federal regulations to the de-

velopment of a hazardous analysis critical control point plan. Throughout the school, section leaders monitor each student’s progress to assure that concepts are understood.

The National Environmental Health Association awards up to 25 contact hours, and the American Registry of Professional Animal Scientists awards up to 12 contact hours of continuing education credit upon successful completion.

The school also offers an optional SE (Salmonella enteritidis) Control Plan course to assist producers in meeting the requirements of the U.S. Food & Drug Administration’s Egg Safety Rule.

Lectures combined with individualized instruction and “hands on” laboratory experience has proven to be a successful technique in preparing students to be a more knowledgeable egg emissary.

Certificates of Proficiency are awarded to those students who attend all sessions and satisfactorily pass the examination. Students who attend all sessions but do not take an exam, will be awarded a Certificate of Attendance. Students who complete the optional SE Control Plan training will receive an additional certificate.

The school is administered through a board of directors which provides support and leadership.

The instruction staff includes leading university and industry scientists, experienced state and federal regulatory officials, and seasoned industry organization representatives. Dr. Paul Patterson of Pennsylvania State University serves as the director of the school.

Each year, the school is held in a new location in order to reduce the cost of travel for attendees from different regions. Participants enjoy a low tuition rate that can be partly attributed to the donation of time and resources by the organizers and

section leaders. It would be truly difficult to find another school that provides so many benefits to the commercial egg industry for such an affordable price.

One of the main reasons the school has had such wonderful success is through support that the egg industry and the associated allied industries have provided; not only in monetary support, but also by sending students to learn.

Ronald Swafford, general manager, Shelled Egg Quality Control, Rose Acre Farms has this to say about NEQS: “If your business is grading eggs, sales and distribution or food preparation, then the Egg Quality School is one of the best investments of time and money you could make for yourself or any employee.”

The goal of the school is to continue to be a forum for the egg industry to assure the distribution of highest quality shell eggs throughout the merchandising chain. This is why it is imperative we educate people throughout the egg industry to ensure it is held to the highest standards. As stewards of the egg industry, we must make sure that we are offering consumers a quality product; a product that not only our industry feels good about, but one that the consumer feels good about as well. Students who attend the National Egg Quality School will be an asset to any organization wanting to assure they are doing the best for this industry.

Jay Elliott, CCF Brands said, “The National Egg Quality School was a great event and will be a valuable asset in performing functions of my job more effectively and efficiently. I had a 15 minute conversation with a couple asking questions abut organic eggs, animal welfare, nutrition, etc., so my newfound knowledge was beneficial before I even returned to the office. Again,

the entire NEQS staff, the accommodations, and my overall experience were first-class!”

So as you can see, this school is very important to our industry. I know that I am much more valuable to this industry because I had the opportunity to attend. This is why I feel so passionately about the National Egg Quality School and why we need people to support it each year. If you have not attended or have employees who have not attended, get cracking and go!

YOU WILL NOT BE SORRY! Sponsorship for the school each year is also very much needed. To achieve the goals for NEQS, we depend on supporters to sponsor such functions as breakfast, breaks, lunches and the “Egg Handlers Romp.” Each supporter will be listed on the NEQS web site, personally thanked at the school and listed in each student’s text book.

I invite you to go to http://www.

Corporate Headquarters

neqs.org and learn more about the National Egg Quality School and how it can continue to help the egg industry. Remember what one of the students, Jay Elliott said: “. . . my newfound knowledge was beneficial before I even returned to the office.”

As I stated, I have benefited from this school for 20 years. The times that I have promoted eggs through education, promotion and nutrition not only helps the consumer, but also help our industry. So I ask you: is Egg-ucating the Egg Industry important? What we do truly does make a difference.

(Next year’s National Egg Quality School will be held May 2023.)

Jewell Hutto is executive director of the Georgia Egg Commission with offices in Suwanee.

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Fax: 770-532-4894

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Companion Publications: Poultry Times; A Guide to Poultry Associations; Poultry Resource Guide.

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Editorial/Advertising Staff Editor David B. Strickland 770-718-3442 dstrickland@poultrytimes.net Associate Editor Barbara L. Olejnik 770-718-3440 bolejnik@poultrytimes.net

The opinions expressed in this publication by authors other than Georgia Ag News staff are those of the respective author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Georgia Ag News.

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GEORGIA AG NEWS, July 2012

Current bill is not your father’s farm bill “

By Tracy Taylor Grondine Special to Georgia Ag News

WASHINGTON — Farm bill legislation (S.3240) recently passed by the Senate is not your father’s typical farm bill. It’s about the future.

The Agriculture Reform, Food and Jobs Act recognizes that U.S. farmers are aging and something needs to be done to ensure that the future of agriculture is viable. S. 3240 includes significant measures to address this demographic predicament.

According to the USDA’s most recent census, the average age of the American farmer is 57 years old. Further, a quarter of American farmers are 65 or older. The future of American agriculture depends on the next generation of farmers and ranchers.

More than any previous farm bill, this one takes direct aim at providing retiring farmers extra benefits for passing their farms on to beginning farmers.

Probably most importantly, the bill provides nearly $200 million in new funding for

More than any previous farm bill, this one takes direct aim at providing retiring farmers extra benefits for passing their farms on to beginning farmers. expanded access for crop insurance for beginning farmers. These improvements will lower the cost of crop insurance for beginning farmers, allow the Risk Management Agency to con and it will provide additional assistance when beginning farmers face natural disasters.

Farmers like Michigan fruit producer and Farm Bureau member Ben LaCross understand the importance of this provision first hand. In a normal year, his farm produces 4 million pounds of cherries. Due to extremely bad weather conditions, this year he’ll be lucky to harvest 40,000 pounds — only 1 percent of his normal production.

This level of losses is tough on any producer, but especially catastrophic for a beginning farmer who is still trying to build up equity. If

S. 3240 were in existence today, LaCross and others like him would have the opportunity to cover more of their crops under crop insurance, using new programs that would provide better coverage at a lower cost.

In other areas, the bill continues the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program, which offers education, training, outreach and mentoring programs to ensure the success of the next generation of farmers. It also increases access to capital and prioritizes the needs of beginning farmers to ensure they have access to programs like the Environmental Quality Incentives Program, a program that is critical to farmers and ranchers striving to be good stewards of the land and trying to meet tough environmental man-

A step back in time

1940 Census data sheds light on farming

By Stewart Truelsen

Special to Georgia Ag News

WASHINGTON — Earlier this spring the National Archives released the 1940 Census to the public. If you are wondering what took them so long, there is a 72-year waiting period required by law to respect the privacy of the respondents.

The personal information had been anxiously awaited by the growing number of amateur genealogists trying to fill out a family tree and learn more about their ancestry. Prior to this release, the 1930 Census was the latest available.

Stewart Truelsen is a regular contributor to the American Farm Bureau Federation’s Focus on Agriculture series, and is the author of a book marking the AFBF’s 90th anniversary, Forward Farm Bureau.

“

‘The farm has an opportunity for normal family life which is still definitely superior to that of the city, in spite of rapid recent changes’ William Hocking

Harvard University professor

A census of the population has been taken every 10 years since 1790, primarily for the apportionment of members to the House of Representatives. However, it also provides a useful snapshot of the population of America; in 1940 it would have been a Kodak Brownie black and white photo.

The population of the United States was 132.2 million then, including the territories of Alaska and Hawaii; a little more than 5 million were farmers. By the 2010 Census, the population had more than doubled to 308.7 million and there were 751,000 full-time farmers, ranchers and agricultural managers.

The decline in farm population started well before the 1940 Census and was expected to continue. The Agriculture Department reported that at least twice as many young people were maturing each year in rural areas than would be needed on the farm. The transition from horsepower to tractor power, which was still going on, reduced the need for farm labor.

This was a real concern because the national unemployment rate in 1940 was 14.6 percent. There

See Census, Page 10

dates.

The bill makes significant strides in increasing lending to beginning farmers by expanding eligibility, removing term limits on guaranteed lending and providing opportunities for beginning farmers to earn direct loan access. For the first time, USDA will have the ability to create pilot programs in the Farm Loan Programs exclusively targeted to beginning farmers.

Finally, the farm bill legislation encourages older farmers to help beginning farmers get started by providing two extra years of Conservation Reserve Program participation to retiring farmers who transition their expiring CRP land to beginning farmers.

Unlike past farm bills, this one is about the future. It’s about farmers like Ben LaCross and the many other young and beginning farmers and ranchers who want to one day pass their farms to their own children.

Tracy Taylor Grondine is director of media relations for the American Farm Bureau Federation, with offices in Washington, D.C.

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GEORGIA AG NEWS, July 2012

Make it at Home Recipe

Double Blueberry Pie U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council Servings: 6

Ingredients:

1 frozen or homemade pie shell (9 inch) 1 jar (10 ounces) blueberry jam or fruit spread 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon 4 cups fresh blueberries Sweetened whipped cream or vanilla ice cream (as needed)

Directions: Following package or recipe directions, prebake pie shell, and then cool.

In a microwaveable dish, combine blueberry jam and cinnamon.

Microwave on high until mixture liquefies, about 1 minute.

Stir in fresh blueberries.

Spoon blueberry mixture into prepared shell and chill.

Serve with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.

Per portion — 393 calories, 68 grams carbohydrate, 12 grams total fat, 3.3 grams saturated fat.

More blueberry recipes can be obtained from the U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council at http:// www.blueberrycouncil.org.

When to pick tomatoes — red, green or pink

By Frank M. Watson

Special to Georgia Ag News

WASHINGTON, Ga. — Gardeners often argue about when tomatoes should be picked — when they’re ripe, almost ripe or green as the stalk that supports them.

Tomatoes are considered to be vine ripe if they are at the “breaker stage” of maturity when they are picked. The breaker stage is when pink color first becomes noticeable. These tomatoes are physiologically mature and will develop their tomato-red color naturally.

These breaker stage tomatoes can be handled and shipped with less damage than those that are more mature when picked.

However, most gardeners don’t plan on transporting their tomatoes any farther than their own kitchen table, so they don’t have to worry about shipping damage. In that case, it doesn’t hurt to wait to pick the tomato past the breaker stage.

Waiting a few extra days also ensures that you can eat the tomato right off the vine.

You can harvest at the breaker stage if you need to take or ship tomatoes to an out-of-town friend.

Just remember to tell your friends to spread the tomatoes apart, so they can continue ripening once they reach their destination.

For shipping many tomatoes are picked at the mature green stage. At this stage there is jelly-like material

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in all the internal cavities of the tomato, and a sharp knife cannot cut the seeds when the fruit is sliced.

Growers use ethylene-based gas to finish ripening tomatoes (and other fruits) that are harvested at the mature green stage. This allows the fruit to be picked, packed and shipped with the least amount of damage, and it extends the shelf life at the supermarket.

Tomato connoisseurs love to argue over whether a tomato that was picked when it was green and ripened with ethylene gas can ever taste as good as vine-ripened tomato.

Some folks believe that the only real tomato is one picked red off the vine.

Others think that tomatoes picked green and ripened during shipping taste just as good.

This controversy will likely continue as long as there are tomatoes to be picked. Probably the only point of agreement between these debaters is that the green version is quite good when fried.

Frank M. Watson is the University of Georgia Cooperative Extension agent in Wilkes County, Ga.

Brad Haire/UGA

When to pick tomatoes: If you are planning to fry tomatoes, of course you’d pick them green. When you are taking some to Grandma’s house a day’s drive away, it may be best to pick them at breaker stage (pink).

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GEORGIA AG NEWS, July 2012

Many gardeners dream of their own greenhouses Goal can be reached with a little planning

By Sharon Dowdy

Special to Georgia Ag News

ATHENS — With a little effort and forethought, the dream of owning a hobby greenhouse can become reality.

As the state’s Cooperative Extension vegetable specialist, Bob Westerfield grows vegetables in a variety of greenhouses on the University of Georgia campus in Griffin.

If a greenhouse is on your wish list, Westerfield recommends asking yourself a few questions first: Do you want a greenhouse to start vegetable plants early, or do you want to produce enough plants to resell?

“A greenhouse is perfect for growing your own transplants, which we all should be doing,” he said. “(Transplants) are so expensive to buy, and you can grow them yourself and save a ton of money.”

Plants affect size Woody ornamentals take more room to grow than vegetable transplants. Westerfield recommends allotting 100 square feet for 100 plant containers. Deciding what you want to grow in your greenhouse will help answer the next question: What size greenhouse do you need?

Don’t forget to allow room for racks, shelves and a walkway for accessibility. “We put down gravel first and then put in pavers so we can easily bring in a wheelbarrow,” Westerfield said.

Once you determine an approximate size, increase it by 25 percent to 50 percent. “Anytime I build something, I always wish I had built it bigger,” he said. “Remember, seeds are tiny but they produce a lot of plants.”

Building materials If you are handy you can build a greenhouse using old scrap metal and wood. Westerfield built his 10-

Bob Westerfield/UGA

Hobby greenhouse: If you aren’t afraid of a saw and know how to operate a hammer, you can build a greenhouse like this one — a 10-by-14 structural frame greenhouse built with treated wood and commercialgrade plastic. The University of Georgia also offers a publication that will give you all the direction you need.

by-14 structural frame greenhouse using treated wood and commercial-grade plastic.

“Premade, my greenhouse would have cost $2,000 to $3,000,” he said.

“A metal frame will last the longest, but I used treated wood and 20 years later it is still structurally-sound. I have to change the plastic every five years or so.”

Westerfield discourages do-ityourselfers from cutting corners on greenhouse coverings. Use high quality greenhouse-grade plastic with a high mil, or thickness, rating.

“Saving money by using painter’s plastic is not really a savings in the long run. If it isn’t UV-treated, it will haze on you and crack and fall apart,” he said.

If you plan on buying a greenhouse kit, read customer reviews of product and make sure it includes solid gauge metal and sturdy supplies.

Sunlight and shade No matter how your greenhouse is constructed, the proper location is the key to its effectiveness. Select a level area that receives a lot of morning sunlight.

“It doesn’t have to be in full sun,” Westerfield said. “Actually, hobbyscale greenhouses don’t have cool-

ing systems to handle the Georgia sun, so a little afternoon shade will actually be beneficial. If you have to build in full sun, add a shade cloth to help cool the system.”

Access to water “If you are too far away from a water source, you are going to get tired of lugging water,” he said.

“And if you miss one or two days of watering, it’s done. You have lost your crop.”

An automated watering system works best. Westerfield uses misters attached to PVC pipes hanging above the plants.

“It comes on by itself and sends down a moist blanket of water,” he said. “And I don’t have to be home for it to come on so life is good.”

Misting works best for flats of plants. If your plants are in containers, use a drip irrigation system.

Temperature Greenhouses need to be kept no lower than 45 degrees F in the winter and not above 85 degrees F in the summer. Attic fans and space heaters can help you meet these requirements.

“Humidity is a limiting factor as to why things work or don’t work in greenhouses,” Westerfield said. “If your soil medium has a green tint or

is slimy, you need ventilation and less moisture.”

Todd Hurt of Macon bought an easy-to-assemble greenhouse to protect his Key lime and orange trees from cold temperatures.

“I have collected and received as gifts many plants that will not survive our winters, so my little greenhouse gets full,” Hurt said.

“I also like to start our vegetable and annual plants from seed. Being able to start our own plants gives us a greater selection of cultivars, and I often have more than enough to give away.”

Hurt’s 10-by-10 poly greenhouse cost $250, and he buys replacement poly covers every three years.

“I used scrap 2-by-6 lumber to hold the bottom of the poly to the ground on the inside and to build a potting bench and plant bench,” he said.

On mild nights, a100-watt light bulb raises the temperature a few

degrees. “Other times I use a small electric heater,” Hurt said. “If it gets really cold, my houseplants and herbaceous plants get damaged, but 90 percent of them come back.”

Hurt is UGA Extension specialist with the Center for Urban Agriculture in Griffin.

“Of course, like most gardeners, I dream of having a big glass greenhouse but I know if I had one I would spend way more money and time (than) I don’t have right now,” he said. “It is amazing that a little 10-by-10 allows me to do many things without much effort.”

More information on hobby greenhouses can be obtained at the UGA Extension publications web site at http://www.caes.uga.edu/ publications/.

Sharon Dowdy is a news editor with the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.

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GEORGIA AG NEWS, July 2012

The heat is on: Spring ’12 one of warmest ever

By Pam Knox

Special to Georgia Ag News

ATHENS — Weather conditions in May continued this year’s trend of above-normal temperatures in Georgia with some areas seeing higher than normal rainfall and other areas still experiencing drought conditions.

Rainfall across the state varied from 25 percent to 500 percent of normal due to the ongoing severe drought coupled with the rainfall contributions of Tropical Storm Beryl at the end of the month near the Georgia coast.

In Atlanta the monthly average temperature was 73.9 degrees F (3.8 degrees above normal), Athens was 72.7 degrees (2.7 above normal), Columbus was 76.1 degrees (3.1 above normal), Macon was 74.2 degrees (2.3 above normal), Savannah was 75.9 degrees (2.6 above normal), Brunswick was 76.2

Pam Knox/UGA

One of the warmest springs: This map shows the amount of precipitation in Georgia in May 2012.

degrees (1.7 above normal), Alma was 76 degrees (2.3 above normal)

and Augusta was 73.8 degrees (2.7 above normal).

Warmest spring This has been the warmest spring on record for a number of National Weather Service Stations including the stations in Atlanta, Athens, Columbus and Savannah. It was the second warmest spring in Augusta in the 142 years that station has been collecting data and the third warmest spring in Macon in the 120 years of collecting data at that station.

It was also the eighth warmest May for Atlanta and the fourth warmest May for Columbus.

The warm winter and spring temperatures led to a 25 percent to 35 percent drop in peach production, since Georgia’s orchards need a certain number of chill hours to produce a full crop. Late-blooming varieties were particularly hard hit. However, the peaches that were harvested were of good quality and were quickly shipped to market.

Rainfall across Georgia varied widely in May due to several storms that passed through the state, including Tropical Storm Beryl in late May. The highest monthly total precipitation from National Weather Service reporting stations was 7.48 inches in Savannah (4.50 inches

above normal), and the lowest was in Macon with only 2.11 inches (0.61 inches below normal).

Augusta received 4.56 inches (1.91 inches above normal), Brunswick received 7.06 inches (5.20 above normal), Alma received 5.02 inches (2.55 above normal) and Columbus received 3.34 inches (0.15 above normal).

Atlanta received only 3.41 inches (0.26 inches below normal), and Athens received 2.67 inches (0.33 inches below normal).

The highest monthly amounts were generally within 100 miles of the Georgia coastline, in the area covered by Tropical Storm Beryl at the end of May. The areas with the least rainfall were in central Georgia where exceptional drought conditions suppressed thunderstorm development.

The highest single-day rainfall reported by a Community Collaborative Rain Hail and Snow Network Station was 4.01 inches in northcentral Georgia near Dahlonega in Lumpkin County on May 7. The second highest daily total was 3.81 inches reported at Kingsland in Camden County on May 29.

The Kingsland observer also had the highest monthly total of 11.28 inches, including 6.34 inches from Beryl. The second highest monthly

total was 9.96 inches reported on St. Simons Island in Glynn County.

Severe weather was reported on 11 days in May. No tornadoes were reported, but there was significant damage to crops from reported hail.

The most severe crop damage came on May 22 in parts of Berrien, Colquitt, Cook, Tift and Worth counties, where a swath of hail up to 40 miles wide fell. The hail fell in the middle of the harvest season for a number of field crops, including hundreds of acres of watermelon.

Wind damage caused scattered power outages during the month, and there were a number of house fires reported due to lightning strikes.

Beryl was the strongest tropical storm observed along the Atlantic Coast in May in more than 100 years, with winds of up to 70 mph as it came onshore just south of the Georgia-Florida border. The storm caused strong rip currents, flooding and high winds, which cut power to thousands of people along the coast.

Beryl did reduce vacation travel in coastal communities over the Memorial Day weekend, but no estimates of losses due to reduced tourism were available at the time this report was written.

Drought conditions in May stabilized due to intermittent showers across the state and a lack of extended hot spells. Farmers reported that timely rain was sustaining crops in some places, while other areas remained dry.

A few farmers reported difficulty getting into the fields due to wet conditions near the end of the month, especially in areas that were affected by Beryl. In dry areas, farmers were continuing to feed hay to livestock due to lack of growing pastures and reported problems with insects.

Pam Knox serves as the University of Georgia agricultural climatologist and is program specialist in the UGA Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering.

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9

GEORGIA AG NEWS, July 2012

Volunteers sought for statewide bat survey SOCIAL CIRCLE — Batty about bats? Concerned about the conservation of underappreciated flying mammals?

The Georgia Department of Natural Resources has a volunteer opportunity for you.

As part of a long-term, nationwide survey, the DNR Wildlife Resources Division is enlisting volunteers to begin collecting acoustic data from Georgia bats in the wild. The project will help better monitor changes in bat populations, particularly in the face of widespread threats such as white-nose syndrome.

The disease also often referred to as WNS has killed an estimated 5.7 million to 6.7 million bats.

Georgia’s 16 bat species eat insects only and use biological sonar called echolocation to navigate, communicate and find prey. The survey that wildlife biologist Trina Morris is organizing will ask volunteers to drive a 30-mile route or “transect” carrying equipment that can record and decipher bat calls by species.

“Acoustic transects provide a great opportunity for the public to be directly involved in collecting data on wildlife species in the state,” said Morris, who works with the Wildlife Resources Division’s Nongame Conservation Section. “By driving the same routes over time, we can better monitor these species and the impacts of WNS and other impacts to bats in our state.”

Protocols and an instructional video posted at http://www. georgiawildlife.org/AnabatProject describe how and when routes are run.

A map marks where the 31 routes are in the state and which ones are open. Participating states follow similar standards.

Morris will provide the recording equipment, which is called an Anabat and was purchased for this project through a federal grant. Volunteers need a vehicle, plus the flexibility and dedication to run the routes as needed, report the data and hopefully agree to participate for more than one summer.

“We are looking for volunteers who can commit to this project for several years and are willing to help transport equipment and coordinate with other volunteers,” Morris said.

“It’s a big effort but a great opportunity for citizens to get involved with bat conservation in Georgia.”

For more information, visit http://www.georgiawildlife. org/AnabatProject. Interested volunteers can contact Morris by e-mail at gadnrbats@gadnr.org, or by phone at 770-9186411.

Georgians can also help conserve bats and other animals not hunted, fished for or trapped, as well as native plants and habitats, by purchasing or renewing a bald eagle or a rubythroated hummingbird license plate, the department noted.

These license plates benefit the Nongame Conservation Section, which receives no state general funds.

More information can also be obtained at http://www. georgiawildlife.com. Nongame Conservation offices can be reached in Social Circle, 770-761-3035; Forsyth, 478-9941438; or Brunswick 912-264-7218.

Alfred Viola, Northeastern University, Bugwood.org

Bat conservation: The Georgia Department of Natural Resources is looking for some volunteers to assist with a project designed to monitor the state’s bat population. Bats are suffering widespread deaths as a result of a disease called white-nose syndrome.

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GEORGIA AG NEWS, July 2012

•Census (Continued from page 5)

weren’t many jobs to be found in the cities to accommodate rural youth. Besides, not all were anxious to leave the countryside.

Writing in the 1940 Yearbook of Agriculture, Harvard University philosophy professor William Hocking said, “The farm has an opportunity for normal family life which is still definitely superior to that of the city, in spite of rapid recent changes.”

Hocking even warned that “no civilization survives when the urbanite becomes the model for all groups.”

The American Farm Bureau Federation didn’t find farming entirely superior. In 1940, it sought to raise farm prices relative to industrial prices and create a fair economic balance between farmers and other groups.

Sadly, Americans who filled

out the census forms in 1940 had no idea that the fighting in World War II would erase more than 400,000 of their names from the next tally, including young farmers and ranchers.

The postwar years saw rapid change. Suburban living became the compromise between choosing to live in the city or rural countryside. The unemployment rate plunged as manufacturing and construction grew and the Baby Boom Generation was born.

The snapshot of America taken in 1940 became quickly outdated by all these events, but its release this year gives many of us a chance to find and appreciate our connection to that difficult yet interesting time.

The official web site of the 1940 Census is http://www.1940census. archives.gov.

Enjoy many outdoor activities at wildlife areas this summer

SOCIAL CIRCLE — Now is a great time to visit a wildlife area and spend quality family time enjoying outdoor activities such as fishing, shooting, hiking, horseback riding, rock climbing or birding, notes the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, adding that, before you go, make sure you have the proper recreational license or pass.

“The best family memories are often made outdoors,” said Dan Forster, director of Georgia’s Wildlife Resources Division. “Summer is the perfect time for families to visit wildlife management areas and public fishing areas and enjoy all they have to offer. These natural areas are scattered throughout the state, making them convenient and affordable for day trips or overnight visits.”

The new Georgia Outdoor RecServing the Poultry and Food Processing Industry Since 1976 reational Pass (GORP), which went into effect Jan. 1, is required for 32 select properties managed

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(WMA), (Walker County) is a great place for rock climbing, caving and hang gliding.

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Thermometers, Tools, Tubing, In addition to fantastic fishValves and Poultry Specialty items. ing, Paradise Public Fishing Area (PFA), (Berrien County) has nature trails, picnic areas, camp sites and Contact us at 770-536-0517 wildlife viewing opportunities. sales@industrialpipega.com Shooting enthusiasts can visit ranges throughout the state: Beaver-

N.A. Irlbeck, Bugwood.org

Enjoying the outdoors: Whether you enjoy horseback riding, rock climbing, hiking, fishing, swimming, or any other fun outdoor activity, it’s the perfect season to get out and experience the many activities available in Georgia.

dam WMA (Laurens County), Big Hammock WMA (Tattnall County), Big Lazer Creek WMA/PFA(Talbot County), Bullard Creek WMA (Jeff Davis County), Chickasawhatchee WMA (Dougherty County), Clybel WMA (Jasper County), Dixon Memorial WMA (Ware County), Hannahatchee WMA (Stewart County), Mayhaw WMA (Miller County), Ocmulgee WMA/PFA (Pulaski County), Richmond Hill WMA (Bryan County), Walton WMA (Walton County), Wilson Shoals WMA (Banks County) and Yuchi WMA (Burke County) For a complete list of GORP areas, visit http://www.georgiawildlife.com/Georgia-Outdoor-Recreational-Pass. The pass is required for visitors ages 16-64. You do not need a GORP if you have a valid

WMA, honorary, sportsmen’s, lifetime, or three-day hunting/fishing license.

A GORP for an individual costs $3.50 (three days) and $19 (annual). An Individual GORP Plus is also $3.50 and includes fishing privileges for Georgia residents.

For groups of eight or fewer people, the pass is $10 (three days) and $35 (annual).

Since Jan. 1, GORP sales have generated more than $100,000 for repairs and maintenance projects on these areas, the department noted.

The pass is available at http:// www.georgiawildlife.com/recreational-licenses, or by phone at 800-366-2661, as well as from retail license agents.

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GEORGIA AG NEWS, July 2012

New grasses grow fast, pollen-free

By Jonathan Andrews

Special to Georgia Ag News

ATHENS — The University of Georgia recently released two drought-tolerant, disease-resistant ornamental grasses that can grow from a seedling to a full plant in one month. And, they don’t produce seed or pollen.

Princess Caroline and Princess Molly were developed by Wayne Hanna, a plant breeder with the UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences in Tifton. The turfgrass breeder named the varieties after his granddaughters. The grasses are patented and licensed through the UGA Research Foundation.

“One of the biggest benefits about them is they don’t produce any seed, they don’t produce any pollen,” Hanna said. “So, they stay pretty vegetative, and the benefit of that is you only get what you plant.”

It also means the plants won’t invade into other areas of the land-

Brad Haire/UGA

Ornamental grasses: New ornamental grasses released by University of Georgia plant breeder Wayne Hanna are well-suited for Georgia’s climate.

scape, he said.

Princess Caroline will grow 3 to 4 feet tall. Princess Molly reaches only 18 inches tall. Princess Caroline is a lot more vigorous, but both can grow in some shade. For best results, though, give them a lot of sun, he said.

Because it is smaller, Princess Molly will do better in the landscape if it doesn’t have a lot of tall competition.

The grasses are fairly maintenance free, he said. A small amount of fertilizer at the beginning of the season is OK, but don’t fertilize too much for a desirable ornamental grass. They need water to get established. But once they are growing, they are very hearty plants for the southern climate.

From Atlanta south, both grasses will overwinter and come back each spring. North of Atlanta and depending on the winter, they should be treated like annuals that die due to the cold.

Currently, four growers in Alabama and five in Georgia are propagating the plants.

Jonathan Andrews is a student writer with the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.

Agroforestry & Wildlife Field Day set for September 20 in Griffin GRIFFIN — Land is a valuable resource and provides immense benefits to humans and to wildlife. Landowners, farmers or sportsmen who wish to increase the value and benefits of the that land they own, hunt or manage should make plans to attend the 2012 Agroforestry and Wildlife Field Day on Sept.

20, at the University of Georgia campus in Griffin.

On this day, federal and state government agency officials and private business representatives will gather together to present this unique educational event to attendees. The field day includes management recommendations and real-life technique demonstrations.

More than 25 topics will be showcased, including: Wildlife Opening Management; Pond

Management; Management for Wild Turkeys, Doves, Quail (each separate topics); Selling and Marketing Timber; Prescribed Burning; Cost Share Assistance Programs.

Registration is $25 prior to Sept. 3, 2012 ($35 after) and includes lunch.

More information can be obtained at http://www.caes.uga. edu/events/awfd/index.html.

This event is sponsored by the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences and Warnell School of Forest and Natural Resources, Georgia Forestry Commission, Georgia DNR-Wildlife Resources Division, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, Fort Valley State University and Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College.

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GEORGIA AG NEWS, July 2012

•Safety (Continued from page 1)

Refrigerate or freeze leftovers promptly and discard any food that has been sitting out too long. Keep hot foods hot and cold foods cold.

Grilling Summer picnics and cookouts almost always involve food on the grill.

The National Fire Protection Association offers safe grilling methods in order to have an accident-free event.  Only use propane and charcoal grills outside the home, never use them indoors.  Make sure the grill is positioned well away from the home and/or deck railings, and that it is not underneath any eaves or overhanging branches.

It should also be far from any lawn games, play areas or foot traffic.  Establish a child- and pet-free zone around the grill of at least 3 feet.  Use grilling tools that have long handles, which will allow more clearance from the flames.  Remember to clean fat and grease off the grill and from trays underneath it regularly in order to reduce the risk of it igniting.

Swimming Summertime also means its time to cool off splashing around in a pool. But parents need to be aware of a few basic safety tips to keep their children safe.

In addition to providing swimming lessons, the number one rule to follow is Supervision of children. Keep an eye on them at all times when at the pool.

Pool fences should be closed when the pool is not in use. Also make sure that alarms on the door to the pool are in working order so that if an alarm goes off, a parent knows the door has been opened.

Another basic safety tip for parents is to take CPR classes in case they are needed.

Boating Boating on Lake Lanier is certain to be a major summer activity. But again, safety first is a must.

Here again, swimming lessons are recommended for everyone. But no matter whether a person is a good swimmer or not, each person on the boat

should wear a life jacket at all times.

Recent data shows that of the fatal accidents involving recreational boating, 84 percent of those who drowned were not wearing a life jacket.

Other safety tips include:  Always check local weather conditions before departure. If there are darkening clouds, volatile and rough changing winds or sudden drops in temperature, play it safe by getting off the water.  Operate the boat at a safe speed at all times, especially in crowded areas.  Make sure more than one person on board is familiar with all aspects of the boat’s handling and operation.  Always be sure to let someone else know where you are going and how long you are going to be gone.  Save the alcohol for later. The probability of being involved in a boating accident doubles when alcohol is involved.

Fireworks Fireworks lighting up the night sky provide a spectacular end to a Fourth of July celebration, but these fireworks should be left to the professionals.

The sale and use of most types of fireworks, including firecrackers, skyrockets, and cherry bombs, are still illegal in Georgia and punishable by a maximum fine of up to $1,000 and up to one year in jail.

Sparklers and similar non-explosive fireworks are legal in Georgia, but caution should be taken to avoid any injuries. Approximately 7,000 people are treated in hospital emergency rooms every year for fireworks-related injuries and most of those incidents involve children.

Georgia Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner Ralph T. Hudgens offers the following safety tips for using legal fireworks:  Always read and follow label directions  Only use fireworks outdoors  Never experiment or attempt to make your own fireworks  Only light one firework at a time  Fireworks should only be used with close adult supervision  Never give fireworks to small children  Be sure to have water handy

Georgia DNR App ranks as a top iTunes download ATLANTA — A free app highlighting Georgia’s State Parks and Wildlife Resources was recently ranked No. 34 in downloads on iTunes Apple store.

Developed by ParksByNature Network, the Georgia DNR Pocket Ranger® Mobile App offers advanced interactive GPS and GIS Map technology for tracking trails, marking waypoints and locating landmarks in the great outdoors.

Georgia’s state parks, wildlife management areas and public fishing areas are operated by the Department of Natural Resources (DNR).

The Georgia DNR Pocket Ranger app is available on iTunes, Android Market and PocketRanger. com. It is also formatted as a Mobile web site for ease of use for Blackberry users.

App users are able to locate friends within parks using the Friend Finder feature. The potentially life-saving Alert feature supplies GPS coordinates to designated contacts in case of an emergency.

Guests can also cache park maps in advance to ensure that navigation remains possible in the event of lost mobile reception.

In addition to GPS technology, the Georgia DNR Pocket Ranger provides other tools that make exploring the great outdoors a breeze, the department noted. Visitors can decide which Georgia State Park, Wildlife Management Areas or Public Fish-

ing Areas to visit using a list of activities or searching a region. The Calendar of Events is updated in real time. Property rules and regulations are a click away, which is especially helpful to anglers and sportsmen.

Also, a Pocket Ranger Mobile Tour Guide tutorial is available at http://www.youtube.com/user/ PocketRangerApp.

•Berries (Continued from page 1)

60 million pounds of the berries, the UGA report noted.

Michigan is the top state in production of highbush blueberries, however; Georgia is also a top producer in regard to acreage and production, officials noted.

For the past several years, blueberries have been touted as a “super food,” because of its antioxidant-rich nature, and, as a result, markets and farms have been increasing with them.

Georgia is farming about 20,000 acres of blueberries, with a value of about $133 million, NeSmith added.

Georgia, and particularly South Georgia, has ideal conditions for growing “Sweet Georgia Blues,” as the Georgia Blue-

berry Commission calls them.

The southern part of the state’s acidic and sandy soil, joined with the relatively short winters and warm summers and springs, are great for blueberry production, the GBC notes.

Blueberries, which are native to North America, are in the same plant genus as cranberries, and can be frozen and enjoyed all year long.

The U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council offers several tips for buying and storing blueberries.

These include:  When selecting a package of blueberries, look for ones that are dry, plump and firm, and have a hazy sheen.  Avoid packages that have juice stains because the fruit may be bruised or damaged, as

well as avoid berries that appear shriveled, soft or have mold.  As soon as the blueberries are brought home, refrigerate them either in the original container or your own storage container.  Wait until you are ready to eat them to wash off the berries.  Either consume or freeze the blueberries within 10 days of purchase.  And if using frozen blueberries for a recipe, measure the berries while they are still frozen.

More information on blueberries can be obtained from the Georgia Blueberry Commission at http://www.georgiablueberries.org; or from the U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council at http:// www.blueberrycouncil.org.

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13

GEORGIA AG NEWS, July 2012

Hike Inn wins TripAdvisor award Travel website says 40 of 48 reviews are 5 stars

USDA Agricultural Research Service

Kudzu bug: USDA’s Agricultural Research Service is studying a potential biological control for the kudzu bug, which does feed on the kudzu vine, but also could be a major pest of soybeans, peanuts and other legumes.

Biocontrol agent tested in fight against kudzu bug

By Jan Suszkiw

Special to Georgia Ag News

BELTSVILLE, Md. — Don’t let its common name fool you.

The “kudzu bug” isn’t to be trusted.

Sure, it will feed voraciously on the stems of kudzu, the “Vine That Ate the South.” But Megacopta cribraria also has a taste for legumes, including soybeans.

And in Georgia, where this native of Asia was first discovered in October 2009, there’s worry the pest will infest peanuts, endangering the state’s $2 billion crop.

USDA scientists and their collaborators haven’t been idle, however. At the Agricultural Research Service Stoneville Research Quarantine Facility in Stoneville, Miss., entomologist Walker Jones is evaluating a top natural enemy of the bug, the parasitic wasp Paratelenomus saccharalis.

ARS is USDA’s principal intramural scientific research agency.

The wasp is non-stinging and harmless to humans, pets and other animals. However, it lays its eggs in those of Megacopta’s.

Upon hatching, the wasp’s maggot-like brood devour the pest’s own developing embryos, reducing the size of the next generation.

Megacopta belongs to a unique

insect family that doesn’t occur anywhere in the Americas. Thus, importing its co-evolved natural enemies isn’t expected to endanger native U.S. bug species, explains Walker, who leads the ARS Biological Control of Pests Research Unit in Stoneville. First, however, the wasp must pass muster on a long list of requirements to confirm its host specificity and environmental safety, starting with the quarantine trials.

Toward that end, Walker is screening eggs of native species of related bugs to learn whether the wasp will attack them, and so far it hasn’t. The evaluations require a steady supply of bugs representing four families and 15 species sent to Walker by collaborators across the country.

Besides Georgia, Megacopta has also been reported in parts of Alabama, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia. A university-led effort is tracking the pest’s spread and studying its basic biology, host crop range, economic impact, chemical control and vulnerability to native predators, parasites and pathogens.

Jan Suszkiw is a public affairs specialist with the USDA’s Agricultural Research Service in Beltsville, Md.

DAWSONVILLE — For more than a dozen years, Georgia’s back country Hike Inn has welcomed hungry hikers who trek five miles from Amicalola Falls State Park.

Guests have rewarded the inn with scores of good reviews on TripAdvisor.com, an international travelreview web site.

As a result, TripAdvisor recently recognized the inn with a 2012 Certificate of Excellence Award.

Reviewers regularly praise the Hike Inn’s customer service and facilities, earning it a 4.5 out of 5 rating. “Best place in the world to go and relax,” said CindyT. “Awesome experience at a unique destination,” said ChristineP. Currently, 40 of the 48 reviews are five-star.

“We are honored and thrilled to receive this award from such a wellrespected travel web site,” said Hike Inn Executive Director Eric Graves.

“All of our staff and volunteers are dedicated to making this a favorite destination for our guests. We have people who have been coming here annually since we opened in 1998.

I can’t tell you how good it feels to know that we have become part of that tradition.”

The Hike Inn is located at the end of a five-mile trail from Amicalola Falls State Park in Dawsonville.

Guests carry only a daypack with toiletries and cameras along the way. At the end of their journey, they find rustic guest rooms, hot showers and hearty meals served family-style, encouraging them to get to know fellow travelers, inn officials noted, adding that, the staff encourage guests to leave modern technology like cell phones tucked away, helping them relax in the natural environment.

“Some people think that our inn is just for hard-core hikers, but that’s not the case,” Graves said. “We’ve had visitors as young as 3 and as old as 84. The trail isn’t particularly difficult, and visitors can take their time hiking. Most people finish in about two to three hours.”

Everyone who makes the trek

from Amicalola Falls does so for a different reason. Some come to get away from hectic, everyday lives.

Some come to spend time with friends and family. Others come before setting off on the famed Appalachian Trail, inn officials noted.

The inn is also often host to girlfriend getaways and small group outings.

Every day at 5 p.m., guests are offered a tour to learn about ecofriendly facilities, such as composting bins and waterless, yet odorless, toilets. After dinner, hikers gather for programs on wildlife, the Appalachian Trail or other environmental topics.

“Part of our mission is to show how buildings and people can have a minimal impact on our environment,” Graves said. “Kids love checking out the worm beds that

we use for composting. Diners are encouraged to not waste food. We have earned LEED certification for our construction and management practices. ” The Hike Inn sits on a mountainside within the Chattahoochee National Forest. A 4.4-mile trail leads to Springer Mountain, the official southern terminus of the famed 2,184-mile Appalachian Trail.

The Hike Inn is operated by an affiliate of the Georgia Appalachian Trail Club and owned by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources.

Rates are $97 single occupancy and $140 double occupancy, including dinner and breakfast. Trail lunches are available and advanced reservations are required.

More information can be obtained at http://www.Hike-Inn.com, or by phone at 800-581-8032.

Whelchel’s Barber Shop The best little barber shop in Georgia

Go back to the past

Come in for a great cut & great stories

Harold Whelchel started trend by owning 1st Barber College in Gainesville. (photo left) Son Buddy Whelchel continues the trend by opening the Thompson Bridge shop in 1970.

Celebrating 50 years in business

Walk-ins welcome

770-536-4939

Wilard Burke, Clyde Dacus Thompson Bridge Road, Robert Columbo & Kathy Gainesville, GA 30506 Stone are among the other Hours: Mon. Wed. Thurs. Fri. 8AM-5PM; barbers in the shop.

Saturday 8AM-12PM Closed on Tuesday

CMYK

14

GEORGIA AG NEWS, July 2012

USDA sets rule to provide protection for horses

IN TR O DU CI NG

WASHINGTON — The USDA has amended regulations to require horse industry organizations that license certain people to assess minimum penalties for violations of the Horse Protection Act. The move by USDA’s Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service, which administers the Animal Welfare Act, is meant to help eliminate the inhumane practice of horse soring — a practice primarily used in the training of Tennessee Walking Horses, racking horses and related breeds to accentuate the horse’s gait, the department said. Horse soring may be accomplished by irritating or blistering a horse’s forelegs through the application of chemicals or the use of mechanical devices. “Requiring minimum penalty protocols will ensure that these organizations and their designees remain consistent in their inspection efforts,� said Deputy Undersecretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs Rebecca Blue. “USDA inspectors cannot be present at every horse show and sale, so we work with industry organizations and their designees to ensure the well-being of these animals. Our goal, together, is to make horse soring a thing

of the past.�

The regulations currently provide that such penalties will be set either by the horse industry organizations or by APHIS. This final rule does not change the penalties set forth in the Horse Protection Act, or HPA. Rather, it requires all APHIS-certified horse industry organizations, which have already been administering penalties as part of their role in enforcing the HPA, to make their penalties equal or exceed minimum levels.

The penalties in this final rule increase in severity for repeat offenders to provide an additional deterrent effect for people who have already shown a willingness to violate the HPA. The final rule will also help ensure a level playing field for competitors at all horse shows, USDA noted. Previously, as some horse industry organiz ations have declined to issue sufficiently serious penalties to deter soring, those shows have attracted more competitors than shows where horse organizations have used APHIS’ minimum penalty protocols. With this final rule, competitors now know that inspections

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and enforcement will take place consistently at all shows they and their horses attend.

Designated qualified persons are trained and licensed by their horse industry organizations to inspect horses for evidence of soring or other noncompliance with the HPA at horse shows, exhibitions and sales. USDA certifies and monitors these inspection programs. For more than 30 years, USDA has encouraged self-regulation in the industry by allowing individual organizations to assess penalties for soring violations.

But a September 2010 Office of Inspector General audit found that APHISâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; program for allowing the industryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s self-regulation has not been adequate to ensure that these animals are not being abused. One of the recommendations in the audit report was for APHIS to develop and implement protocols to more consistently issue penalties with individuals who are found to be in violation of the HPA. This final rule requires that suspensions for violating the HPA be issued to any individuals who are responsible for: showing a sore horse; exhibiting a sore horse; entering or allowing the entry of that horse in a show

or exhibition; selling, auctioning or offering the horse for sale or auction; shipping, moving, delivering or receiving a sore horse with reason to believe that such horse was to be shown, exhibited, sold, auctioned or offered for sale, the department noted. This includes the manager, trainer, rider, custodian, seller or owner of the horse, as applicable.

An individual who is suspended will not be permitted to show or exhibit any horse or judge or manage any horse show, horse exhibition or horse sale/auction for the duration of the suspension, USDA added.

Walking horses are known for possessing a naturally high gait, but in order to be successful in competition their natural gait is often exaggerated.

The exaggerated gait can be achieved with proper training and considerable time; however, some horse exhibitors, owners and trainers have chosen to use improper training methods to achieve their desired ends, the department said.

More information may be obtained at http://www.aphis.usda.gov.

Niche markets offer outlet for dairy farms CLERMONT â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Dairy farms across America are facing rising feed costs, rapidly increasing operating expenses and high land prices. Countless farms have closed permanently or penetrated niche markets to survive. â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Go big or go homeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; takes on new meaning for farmers struggling to survive in the Southeast.

Secondary to significant increases in feed and operating costs, small dairy farms in the northern region of Georgia are forced to close doors, expand operations or enter a niche market. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Today, about 85 percent of milk production comes from farms that are milking more than 1,000 cows. The smaller farmer canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t compete with the bigger dairies because of input costs. They (large dairy operations) can buy things so much cheaper. They can hedge on stuff and buy more quantities at a cheaper rate than the small dairy farmer,â&#x20AC;? stated Scott Glover, owner of Glo-Crest Dairy Farm and Mountain Fresh Creamery. Glover continues, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Now youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re seeing more and more farms doing stuff like weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re doing. Theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re trying to market their own product and find a niche. A lot of them have opened up their farms to tours. Theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re trying to find a way to make ends meet because theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve realized they canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t compete with large dairy operations on product.â&#x20AC;?

The consensus among small dairy farmers in Georgia is that they have two choices: Expand and â&#x20AC;&#x153;go bigâ&#x20AC;? or find a niche market to survive. Too often, operations cannot do either and are forced to close. Records indicate a 33 percent loss of dairy farms in the state of

Georgia since 2002. This means one-third of all dairy operations once flourishing in Georgia have ceased operations in 10 years. The federal government took notice to the trending hardships in 2008 and implemented the Milk Income Loss Contract. This supplemental program assists farmers to a degree, but cannot fully sustain farms which face additional outside factors, such as exorbitant land prices.

Farmers who choose to â&#x20AC;&#x153;go bigâ&#x20AC;? and expand operations to survive must purchase additional land for grazing and increase herd size. High land prices eradicate this choice for some and force others to relocate to regions where land is more feasible.

The Glovers and many other farms have faced this scenario. Scott and Jennifer Glover contemplated uprooting their family and relocating dairy operations to southern Georgia or northern Florida where land was cheaper. After thoughtful deliberation, the creamery concept became apparent and they entered the niche market. A part of Georgiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s agritourism, Mountain Fresh Creamery operates in Clermont, Ga., and sells direct to the public, bottling all natural, non-homogenized milk and stocking fresh butter and ice cream produced from their dairy.

These adversarial economic conditions have brought small farms, from dairy to crop, to the brink of closure.

Niche markets continue to provide an essential outlet for dairy farms across the nation facing challenges and increasingly antagonistic conditions.

CMYK

15

GEORGIA AG NEWS, July 2012

Flooding leaves Midwest farms a sandy wasteland The Associated Press

MISSOURI VALLEY, Iowa — Mason Hansen guns his pickup and cranks the steering wheel to spin through sand up to 4 feet high, but this is no day at the beach.

Hansen once grew corn and soybeans in the sandy wasteland in western Iowa, and his frustration is clear. Despite months spent hauling away tons of sand dropped when the flooded Missouri River engulfed his farm last summer, parts of the property still look like a desert.

Hundreds of farmers are still struggling to remove sand and fill holes gouged by the Missouri River, which swelled with rain and snowmelt, overflowed its banks and damaged thousands of acres along its 2,341-mile route from Montana through North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Iowa and Missouri. The worst damage and the largest sand deposits were in

“

‘We’ll be working on this for years. It’ll never be right. Ever. People don’t have any idea how big of a mess this is.’

Mason Hansen Iowa farmer

Iowa and Nebraska.

“We’ll be working on this for years,” Hansen said. “It’ll never be right. Ever. People don’t have any idea how big of a mess this is.”

Hansen has spent the past nine months pushing sand off the land he has farmed since 2000 near Missouri Valley, about 25 miles north of Omaha, Neb. Throughout the mild winter, he worked with his neighbor and two farm employees to clear 140 acres, but about 160 acres are still buried under sand.

The work is tedious. As the men scrape away the sand with bulldoz-

ers, they must stop repeatedly to pull out equipment that has become stuck in the still soggy fields.

As they work, catfish swim in a 30-foot-deep hole scoured out by the river, and a faint sandy haze clouds the air. On days when the wind picks up, sandstorms sweep through the fields, blinding workers as they dig into the ground.

“We have the means and the ability to fix it,” Hansen said. “... But when you have to come out here and deal with it all the time, it gets old.”

Shawn Shouse, an Iowa State University engineer and agribusi-

State to streamline export services ATLANTA — Farmers in Georgia will benefit from streamlined export assistance thanks to an agreement signed recently by Chris Cummiskey, commissioner of the Georgia Department of Economic Development, and Gary Black, commissioner of the Georgia Department of Agriculture.

The agreement, a memorandum of understanding signed by the commissioners during an agriculture focused trade and business mission in Turkey, will create an interagency strategic partnership between GDA, GDED and the Southern United States Trade Association to provide a platform for increased efficiency in the assistance state government provides for agriculture. The agreement became effective on June 1.

“Because both of our agencies help agricultural companies take advantage of global opportunities to sell Georgia products in strategic world markets, it only makes sense to combine our efforts,” Cummis-

key said. “Working together and sharing resources, we can boost business visibility and opportunities abroad for Georgia’s biggest industry through our 10 international offices.”

“Georgia agriculture is increasingly becoming a larger player in international trade. Many of our commodities are top in the nation for overseas exports,” Black said.

“By partnering with the Georgia Department of Economic Development, together, we will provide greater exposure and knowledge for Georgia agricultural products in the world market.”

The Georgia Department of Agriculture will continue to assist Georgia’s agricultural community and will now coordinate key international events in coordination with its sister agency, the Department of Economic Development, the groups noted.

GDA will retain official membership in SUSTA, and the commissioner of the Georgia Depart-

ment of Agriculture will continue to serve as an active member of SUSTA’s board of directors.

The agreement moves the primary promotion and coordination of the state of Georgia’s agricultural exports to the Department of Economic Development, which will add export assistance for this important industry sector to its existing International Trade division, the group noted.

GDED will promote SUSTA’s export promotion programs and services to companies within the state and will serve as the primary dayto-day contact for inquiries about agricultural exports from Georgia.

SUSTA-paid staff currently housed at GDA will report to and be housed at GDED. For more information: GDED can be reached at http://www.georgia.org.

GDA can be reached at http:// www.agr.georgia.gov.

ness expert, said most farmers can repair their land, but for some it will take another year or two of work. The first chore is removing the sand.

“The sand doesn’t hold nutrients and water the way soil does, so it’s not suitable for growing crops,” he said. “If the deposits are thin, they can stir them into the soil and probably get along well. But when the deposits are several feet thick, they really have to move that sand somewhere else. That can be really expensive — and you have to figure out what to do with it.”

Shouse said the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers prohibits farmers from dumping sand back into the river without a federal permit, so most of it gets piled along the fields and used to fill giant holes left by the water.

That’s what Hansen has done.

But even when the sand is cleared,

farmers’ problems aren’t over.

The sand and months underwater killed crucial microbes in the soil that help crops grow. Restoring those microbes, which develop naturally on plant roots, could take several years. Farmers plant corn, knowing it will grow inefficiently until enough microbes get back into the soil.

In Iowa, the flood inundated nearly 256,000 acres of cropland in six western counties, while in Nebraska, it swamped about 119,000 acres. Dan Steinkruger, the Farm Service Agency’s Nebraska state executive director, said Iowa has more low-lying fields along the banks than his state.

Farmers in Nebraska and western Iowa lost a combined $300 million or more in crop sales and other economic activity to the flooding, according to the two states’ Farm Bureaus.

The future starts in your own back yard...

4222 Cleveland Hwy Gainesville, GA [located just north of Jim Hood]

770-983-5020 www.northhallearthworks.com

CMYK

16

GEORGIA AG NEWS, July 2012

Randy Jones Insurance Agency, Inc. Serving Poultry Farmers Across the Southeast with locations in:

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14 Office Park, Suite 105A Birmingham, AL 35223 205-822-8150

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