Georgia Ag May 2012 Edition by The Times

Georgia

AG News

Inside: Smaller Vidalia onions Page 7 Flavor of Georgia Page 8 Unicoi Lodge closure Page 9 Bald Eagles Page 12

May 2012

North Georgia’s Agricultural Newspaper

Spring: Time to tackle lawn and garden projects By Barbara Olejnik Georgia Ag News Staff bolejnik@poultrytimes.net

GAINESVILLE — Spring is in the air. Daffodils, dogwoods and azaleas have bloomed and other beautiful flowers are on the way. Spring officially began March 20, but there are still things to be

done in the outdoors to ensure a great looking lawn, beautiful plants, rainbow-hued flowers and even those wonderful homegrown vegetables. But before heading to the outdoors, the wise gardener knows to examine all tools and equipment — clippers, mower, leaf blower, weed trimmer — to make sure

they have been sharpen or are in working order. It can be very frustrating to be in the middle of a project only to find out that the tool needed is either broke, missing or not usable.

Lawns Spring is an excellent time to rake the lawn and begin to introduce light and air into the soil for stronger grass growth. Add lime to the soil if it has a pH below 6.2. This should be done several weeks before planting. Re-seed areas that need it by using a metal rake to break up the hard bare areas to give the seeds a better chance to grow. For established lawns, start mowing in the spring, but don’t cut the grass very short for the first few times. Various studies have suggested that a neat and welldone landscape design can improve a home’s value by up to 12 percent and homeowners can see a 100 percent to 200 percent return on their investment.

ckla Photo by David B. Stri

getables, or u garden flowers or ve g nice, now yo er eth Wh : om blo nts lookin Gardens in ing your landscape pla are interested in keep ns ready. is the time to get garde

Trees & bushes Spring is a good time to check for any damage to trees and shrubs that may have occurred due to winter weather. Remove dead,

See Projects, Page 2

Photo by David B. Strickland

Agribusiness awards: Among those recognized at the recent 2012 Hall County Agribusiness Awards Presentation & Breakfast, were, left to right, Dori Bishop, Pony Perfect Party, Outstanding Agribusiness; Mike Giles, Georgia Poultry Federation, Friend of Agriculture; Edna Wilson, wife of the late Homer Wilson; and Randy Bruce, son of the late Alton Bruce; both Homer Wilson and Alton Bruce, of Bruce and Wilson Feed & Poultry, were posthumously inducted into the Agribusiness Hall of Fame; and Payton Edge, Edge Farms, Farmer of the Year. The annual awards are sponsored by the Hall County Cooperative Extension and the Greater Hall Chamber of Commerce.

Agriculture recognized at annual breakfast By David B. Strickland Georgia Ag News Staff dstrickland@poultrytimes.net

GAINESVILLE — Individuals, as well as companies, working in agriculture and agribusiness provide a great deal to North Georgia in terms of products, jobs and also enrichment. Recently several of these local people and companies were recognized for their contributions. The 17th annual Hall County Agribusiness Awards Presentation & Breakfast, sponsored by the Hall County Cooperative Extension and the Greater Hall Chamber of Commerce, placed the spotlight on some of those who have excelled in the field. This year’s award recipients included: l Agribusiness Hall of Fame — Homer Wilson and Alton Bruce, Bruce and Wilson Feed & Poultry, were posthumously

See Awards, Page 7

GEORGIA AG NEWS, May 2012

Ag opportunities promoted in Georgia By Billy Skaggs

Special to Georgia Ag News

ATLANTA — It’s springtime in Georgia and that means farmers are gearing up for their busiest time of year. As producers begin harvesting many of our state’s top commodities as they come into season, it is fitting that the new Georgia Grown campaign is also beginSkaggs ning anew. The Georgia Department of Agriculture has been very excited about rolling out our brand new, revitalized Georgia Grown program this year, starting with the unveiling of a more userfriendly logo in 2011 followed by the program’s kick-off in January with a new web site, http://www.GeorgiaGrown. com.

Georgia Grown Since the program’s relaunch, our Marketing Division has been working to get the word out to producers, distributors, packers and all agribusinesses across the state to begin building a comprehensive online database and network for all things agriculture. I’d encourage everyone to visit the new site, visit the “What’s In Season” page and

find local producers who have already registered. We encourage you to investigate the memberships that are available, with varying levels and benefits available for any and all Georgia agribusinesses. I stress the “What’s In Season” page of the new Georgia Grown web site because this is such an important time for agriculture right now. April 12 marked the official ship date for Vidalia onions and our favorite “sweet onion” is only in season through the summer. Similarly, you can only find juicy Georgia watermelons and delicious sweet corn a few months out of the year so look for these items at farmers markets and grocery stores while you have the chance to enjoy them fresh and locally. You can also visit one of the nine State Farmers Markets the department operates around Georgia. We’re excited to announce an upcoming event at the Atlanta State Farmers Market — The Georgia Grown Farmer Showcase — in mid June. This family-friendly event is the perfect opportunity to visit the market, see what’s available and find some fresh Georgia Grown products. Shoppers can chat with Georgia farmers who have been vendors at the market for years as well as meet other growers and agritourism operators from across our great state.

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For horse enthusiasts, the department’s next Equine Auction is happening May 12 at the Mansfield Impound Facility. We’d encourage anyone interested in supporting our equine program to consider providing a good home for one of these majestic animals. Our auctions include

horses that our Equine Health employees have rehabilitated and the family-friendly events showcase what happens during an authentic auction. The department has also been busy this spring as we increase our outreach and opportunities for new partnerships. The “Feed My School” program with the Department of Education just kicked off April 23 with three different school systems across the state participating including Wauka Mountain Elementary School in northern Hall County. The pilot program helps teach students more about nutrition and where their food comes from and directly illustrates how Georgia Grown products in a farm-to-school scenario provide fresh, nutritious meals in

•Projects (Continued from page 1)

damaged and diseased branches from woody plants. Thin and trim summer-blooming shrubs such as butterfly bush, hydrangea and most roses. Prune colddamaged wood after plants resume spring growth. Prune spring-blooming shrubs and trees after flowering. It is also a good time to transplant any bushes, trees or shrubs. Just make sure to dig down under the root ball to avoid cutting any roots. Plant bare-root trees, shrubs and perennials, such as hostas and daylillies, by early spring. Transplant container-grown plants anytime during the growing season except midsummer. Be sure to water thoroughly. Sow seeds of cool-season flowers like sweet peas, poppies and calendula.

Flowers Start looking for and removing early spring weeds from flower beds and borders before they have a chance to take hold and spread. Roots are shallow in the spring and easier to pull. It is also a good time to mulch any bed areas that are bare to minimize the growth of weeds. Remove spent flowers from bulbs, but leave the rest of the plant. Don’t dig an established bed, but add nutrients from the top and let them work their way down into the soil. However, if there are perennials in the bed, spring is a good time to split or divide them while roots are

cafeterias. As part of our ongoing outreach, our social media outlets continue to grow and expand. You can see our new and improved web site, http://www. agr.georgia.gov, for daily updates on agriculture news, find our latest press releases and learn what’s happening now in Georgia for agriculture. Visit our Facebook page or any of our Twitter accounts to leave your feedback and post news while you check out our photos, videos and agriculture updates. Billy Skaggs is the chief operating officer of the Georgia Department of Agriculture. He can be reached at 404-6564887; or by e-mail at billy. skaggs@agr.georgia.gov.

still short. Fertilize and mulch beds and borders. If heavy winter mulch was applied for protection from the cold, it now needs to be cleared away.

Vegetables The ideal place for a vegetable garden is a level well-drained site that receives full sun all day. A minimum amount of sunlight would be at least six hours a day. Look for a site that supports vegetative growth, even if that turns out to be weeds. If weeds won’t grow in an area, vegetables probably won’t grow there either. Plant vegetables away from buildings and trees that could shade the garden. Peas, spinach and lettuce all do well planted early. These can be followed by broccoli, cabbage and kale. Avoid placing the garden in a low spot where water drains poorly and areas that are compacted and stay soggy after a rain. Loamy or sandy loam soils are preferable to a heavy clay soil. Minor drainage problems can be solved by adding lots or organic matter, which will help retain water and build soil nutrients. However, the University of Georgia College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences warns, “Do not add sand to Georgia clay — it will turn your soil into concrete.”

GEORGIA AG NEWS, May 2012

Controlling moss and algae in turfgrass areas By Michael Wheeler Special to Georgia Ag News

GAINESVILLE — Occasionally turfgrass areas begin to thin out and moss and algae begin to form. These primitive plants develop because conditions for growing dense, healthy turf have declined. Mosses are branched, threadlike green plants, which form a tangled, thick mat over the soil. Algae are threadlike green plants, which form a dense, green scum over the soil surface. Neither moss nor algae are thought to be parasitic and both are spread by wind blown spores. Both can form crusts on the soil surface, which reduces air and water movement into the soil. Factors that favor their development include wet and humid conditions and compacted soils with thin turf. Moss is more common in shady areas with

infertile, acidic soils (low soil pH) and excessive thatch; while algae are in full sun conditions and fertile soils. Cultural practices that favor growth of turfgrasses will reduce the competiWheeler tion from moss and algae. These practices include the following: l Maintain good soil fertility and pH — Have the soil tested to determine proper lime and fertilizer needs. For most turfgrasses, the pH should between 6.0 and 6.5. l Improve drainage — Soils which stay moist because of poor drainage should be contoured so that water will drain off the area. In some cases, tile

drainage may be necessary to correct wet conditions. l Increase light penetration and air circulation — Pruning tree limbs below 10 feet and selected limbs in the crown will improve light penetration and air movement. Also removing some of the least desirable trees and thinning and/or removing shrubs will help. Areas surrounded by buildings and vegetation with limbs close to the ground may require considerable work to provide adequate air circulation and light penetration. l Use a shade tolerant grass — However, if direct sunlight does not reach the ground during the day, an ornamental ground cover may be better suited to the site. l Cultivate compacted soils — Aerification with a plug aerator will help reduce compaction. Drainage in fine textured soils can be improved by

cultivation and adding organic matter 3 inches deep and then incorporated. l Irrigate deeply and infrequently — Avoid light, frequent irrigations of your turf. Wait for signs of moisture stress such as the development of a bluish-gray, dull color before irrigating. Then water to wet the soil to at least 6 inches deep. Most healthy lawns need about 1 inch of water per week during active growth. l Renovate — Generally, turf may be renovated if at least 50 percent of the area has a desired turf. If turf cover is less than 50 percent, then reestablishment will be justified. 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.

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JA Business Hall of Fame: Elton Maddox, second from right, president and CEO of Wayne Farms LLC in Oakwood, Ga., was inducted into the Junior Achievement of Northeast Georgia’s Business Hall of Fame on April 12. Maddox was recognized for his lifelong work in the poultry industry, his church and missionary efforts, as well as his officer duties with several poultry organizations — He is currently treasurer with the U.S. Poultry & Egg Association, on the board of directors with the National Chicken Council, and is a past president of the Georgia Poultry Federation. Congratulating Maddox during the ceremony were, left to right, Mike Giles, president of the Georgia Poultry Federation; John Starkey, president of the U.S. Poultry & Egg Association; and Abit Massey, GPF president emeritus. “Elton is clearly a top leader in Georgia’s poultry industry,” Massey said.

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GEORGIA AG NEWS, May 2012

Viewpoint Land-grant education celebrating 150 years By J. Scott Angle

Special to Georgia Ag News

ATHENS — Higher education in America was once a luxury for the privileged. In 1862, President Abraham Lincoln changed that when he signed the Morrill Act, which established the nation’s land-grant universities and opened doors of higher education to more Americans. The act directed funding to agriculture, engineering and mechanical arts education, helping build the infrastructure that has kept us strong and helps feed the world today. This year we mark the 150th anniversary of the land-grant university system. We celebrate the advances the act provided. Today the U.S. has a safe, secure food supply, a well-educated population, vibrant centers of innovation and discovery, and hands-on lo-

cal education enriches citizens’ lives. The act also helped grow a dynamic, successful middle class in America that is the Angle backbone of our society, workforce and future.

New challenges Everyday we face new challenges. The population is growing, but available land to grow food is not. Our environment is suffering, and ways to protect it must be found. America is slipping behind the world in science education, and higher education must be openly available now more than ever for us to compete.

The act embraced by President Lincoln 150 years ago is more important today than the day it was signed. When delivering the Justin Morrill Lecture recently at the Association of Public and Landgrant Universities conference, Kenneth G. Cassman, professor of agronomy at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, outlined the perfect storm of problems that lies ahead. He contended that rising fuel and food costs reduces spendable income, which causes education levels to decrease and birth rates to rise, creating a cycle that threatens our ability to feed people. Solutions to many of these challenges will be found in the classrooms, labs and programs of land-grant universities. At the University of Georgia, we are breeding better crops that

Agriculture safety awareness is always a good investment By Richard L. Lobb

Special to Georgia Ag News

WASHINGTON — Agricultural Safety Awareness Week, which was held in March, is an occasion when Farm Bureau reminds farmers and ranchers to take time to be safe as they go about their daily tasks. A little awareness goes a long Richard L. Lobb is managing director for the Council for Biotechnology Information in Washington, D.C. This article was featured as a guest contribution to the American Farm Bureau Federation’s Focus on Agriculture column series. Lobb is a long-time agricultural communicator, having worked for several years with the National Chicken Council.

way, and safety is always a good investment. Any occupation that involves physical labor and the use of moving equipment has a built-in level of danger. So the farm or ranch has its share of hazards, just like any workplace. According to the U.S. Labor Department’s Bureau of Labor Statistics report for injuries on the job in the year 2010, the workforce involved in growing crops or raising animals experienced proportionately fewer injuries than those working in sawmills or in iron foundries, but slightly more than people working in underground coal mines. Working in farming is more hazardous by that measure than working in construction but about the same as a machine shop.

See Lobb, Page 6

can produce higher yields with less water and less environmental impact. We are working to find a dependable supply of bio-based fuels to help solve our energy problems. And we are discovering ways to produce food using fewer chemicals and fertilizers.

Legacy & future The legacy of the Morrill Act is evident across generations of American families and the landscape of our agricultural promise. Our system is the envy of many. Struggling countries often look squarely to our landgrant system as the solution to the problems that plague them. From Eastern Europe to Africa and Afghanistan, we’ve helped introduce the public educational system to promote a brighter future for us all.

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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 Graphic Artist Courtney Canaday 770-718-3437 ccanaday@poultrytimes.net

We must now greet the next 150 years with the same vigor and dedication we gave the past 150 years. It requires renewed commitment to reliable funding, sound policy and partnerships that got us this far. While today’s problems are more complex, so are the tools and technologies available to solve them. As we celebrate our successful past and remember the wisdom of President Lincoln, we will keep our sights set on developing the new innovations that will ensure a food-secure future. J. Scott Angle is dean and director of the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences and chairman of the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities Board on Agriculture Assembly. Account Executive Stacy Louis 770-718-3445 slouis@poultrytimes.net Account Executive Dinah Winfree 770-718-3438 dwinfree@poultrytimes.net

Companion Publications: Poultry Times; A Guide to Poultry Associations; Poultry Resource Guide. 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. Georgia Ag News assumes responsibliity for error in first run of an inhouse designed ad only. Advertisers have ten (10) days from publication date to dispute such an advertisement. After ten (10) days, ad will be deemed correct and advertiser will be charged accordingly. Proofs approved by advertiser will always be regarded as correct.

GEORGIA AG NEWS, May 2012

Use up-to-date information on food preservation By Debbie Wilburn

Special to Georgia Ag News

ROSWELL — When your garden or farmer’s market overflows with fresh vegetables and fruits, you can take your home cooking one step further by preserving some of those foods for your family to enjoy all year long! You may be thinking about preserving your harvest for the first time — or dusting off old canning equipment. If you plan to preserve garden surplus this year, be sure to get up-to-date Debbie Wilburn is a volunteer and former Family and Consumer Sciences agent with the University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Service in Hall County.

information. Updated recommendations are as close as the National Center for Home Food Preservation at Wilburn http://www. nchpf.uga. edu. Here you will find current research-based information on canning, jam and jellies, pickles, freezing, drying and so much more. As a former (as in retired) Family and Consumer Science Extension agent, I answered thousands of questions on food preservation each year. I used this web site and the excellent book, So Easy to Preserve as my

primary sources of information. So Easy To Preserve contains the latest USDA recommendations for safe food preservation. It is a 375-page book with more than 185 tested recipes, along with step-by-step instructions and in-depth information for both the new and experienced food preserver. Chapters include Preserving Food, Canning, Pickled Products, Jellied Fruit Products, Freezing and Drying. This 5th edition has 35 new tested recipes and processes, in addition to a new section with recommended procedures for home-canned salsas. The book costs only $18, which includes standard shipping to the continental U.S. Check online for an order form. In addition to recipes you will find remedies for common ques-

Effort and interest in looking to find ‘long lost recipes’ By Stewart Truelsen Special to Georgia Ag News

WASHINGTON — One of the world’s oldest recipe books was written around 1390 by chefs in the court of King Richard II. Among the dishes fit for an English king was a frumenty or porridge made with bulgur wheat, chicken stock and saffron. A favorite treat was payn puff, which consisted of boiled fruits wrapped in a pastry. This medieval cookbook, written in Middle English and called the Forme of Cury, contained no measures of ingredients or instructions. Since then, treasured recipes have been collected and passed down through generations of restaurant chefs and family cooks. However, many have been lost, misplaced or are gathering dust on 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.

pantry shelves. Finding lost recipes is a passion for Monica Kass Rogers, a Chicago food writer with an interest in food history. “Everybody has a recipe that they miss,” she said, “whether that’s a restaurant that closed, or maybe the aunt who was the family recipe keeper died, and you never got the recipe for Aunt Sylvia’s meatloaf.” An assignment for a Chicago newspaper got Rogers started helping people connect with the recipes they missed most. One lady longed for a meat dish served at her elementary school cafeteria in Florida. Rogers tracked down the school’s recipe for potato turbate, seasoned ground beef between layers of whipped potatoes. She even updated the old recipe by adding a few more vegetables. Her biggest find has to be a recipe for rum cake from a bakery in Austin, Texas, that closed 50 years ago. No one could duplicate the butterysweet flavor until Rogers found the secret — sub-

See Truelsen, Page 8

tions and problems, like: Help, my tomatoes are floating in the jar. Why didn’t my canning jars seal? What do I do now, my jelly didn’t gel? Do I need to blanch my vegetables before I freeze them? The National Center for Home Food Preservation also offers a free, self-paced, online course for those wanting to learn more about home canning and preservation. Topics include: Introduction to Food Preservation; General Canning; Canning Acid Foods; and Canning Low-Acid Foods. This course is offered in the University of Georgia eLC system. UGA requires registration for you to receive a login. More information can be obtained at http://www.nchfp.uga.edu. At the same web site click on

multimedia — here you can access slideshows on such topics as: Jams, Jellies, Preserves & Butters: The Basics of Making Jellied Products; Step-By-Step Canning of Tomato-Pepper Salsa; Pressure Canning and Canning Low Acid Foods at Home; Freezing Strawberries Using the Sugar Pack; Freezing Fruits and Vegetables; and Drying Foods. On the home page for the National Center of Home Food Preservation click on publications on the left and you will find a link to the USDA Complete Guide to Home Canning. You will also see other government publications and links to other universities. l As a warning — Do not dust off and use your mother’s

See Wilburn, Page 8

GEORGIA AG NEWS, May 2012

Make it at Home Recipe Chopped Watercress Chicken Salad with Asian Orange Dressing National Chicken Council Servings: 4

Ingredients: 1 1/2 pounds chicken tenders 1 1/2 cups orange juice 2 teaspoons honey 1 tablespoon sesame oil 4 teaspoons soy sauce 3 tablespoons rice wine vinegar 2 tablespoons water 1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger 2 cloves garlic 1/2 teaspoon red chili flakes 4 cups watercress, washed and chopped (arugula may be substituted) 2 cups romaine hearts, washed and chopped

1 bunch green onions, sliced 1/4 cup cilantro, chopped 2 tablespoons peanuts, chopped Directions: In a small saucepan, bring orange juice to a boil over medium heat. Boil to reduce by half, about 5 minutes. In food processor or blender, combine juice, honey, sesame oil, soy sauce, vinegar, water, ginger and garlic. Process until smooth. Remove half of mixture and place in a large plastic, sealable bag. Add red chili flakes and chicken tenders. Marinate for 30 minutes. Reserve remaining dressing. In a large serving bowl, combine watercress, romaine, onions and cilantro. Warm large sauté pan over medium high heat. Remove tenders from marinade and add to pan, along with marinade. Sauté tenders until cooked through and caramelized brown, about 3 to 4 minutes per

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side, turning. Toss reserved dressing with greens. Top with grilled tenders. Add chopped peanuts before serving. More chicken recipes can be obtained from the National Chicken Council at http://www. eatchicken.com.

•Lobb (Continued from page 4)

Statistics are also kept on accidents that involve fatalities. According to BLS, in 2010 some 312 people died while working in crop production and another 151 in animal production. Adding in people working in support activities (like soil preparation), 495 agricultural workers lost their lives on the job in 2010. The stats cover only farms with 11 workers or more, so small family farms are not counted. Still, the tally is spread over about 900,000 workers, which represents a sizable portion of the agricultural workforce. The annual cost of agricultural occupational injuries and fatalities has been estimated at upwards of $4 billion, and the real cost could be far more. There is the direct medical cost, the loss of productivity and the disruption that occurs when a farm operator is put out of commission for any length of time. And it’s impossible to put a real value on a life that is actually lost. The emotional toll on family members and other workers is an additional factor not to be overlooked. Thankfully, progress is being made. Technological improvements alone are bringing a higher level of safety to farm work. For example, tractor rollovers have been a major cause of injury or death, occurring mainly when equipment is operated on sloping ground or too close to a ditch. But rollover protection systems (ROPS) are now standard on new tractors. The

investment in adding rollover protection and seatbelts to older tractors will pay great dividends if these tractors are involved in a rollover. Safety on the farm is like anything else; it improves when you work at it. If the farm operator sets and enforces certain rules, the margin of safety will increase. Take tractor safety, for example. Proper maintenance of equipment and enforcement of rules such as “No seat, no rider” are smart investments of time and money. Awareness works. For example, Farm Bureau has put the spotlight on children and teenagers and the work they do on farms. The organization has emphasized that while farm kids are frequently vital to the success of a farm, many, but not all farm jobs are appropriate. Partly as a result of greater awareness, injury rates among youth on the farm were cut in half from 1998 to 2009, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, citing data from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. While it’s hard to quantify the total impact of accidental injury or death, it’s easy to see that any farm is better off without them. Awareness of hazards and a commitment to safety for everyone on the farm is an investment that will pay off many times over.

GEORGIA AG NEWS, May 2012

Vidalia onion farmers working to shrink onion size By Merritt Melancon Special to Georgia Ag News

ATHENS — Shoppers across the country crave Georgia’s signature sweet onions, but sometimes they want that sweetness in a smaller package. Georgia’s Vidalia onion farmers have spent their last few growing seasons working to produce smaller versions of their prized onions, which are typically some of the largest onion varieties in the produce department. “I’ve always thought that if a slice was bigger than a loaf of bread or bigger than a hamburger bun, it might be too big,” said Reid Torrance, coordinator of the University of Georgia’s Vidalia Merritt Melancon is a news editor with the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.

Onion and Vegetable Research Center in Toombs County.

Super-sized onion For years consumers demanded giant-sized onions that could be used in different fried-onion recipes or wrapped in foil and thrown on the grill. Shoppers would pay more money per pound for larger onions. In response, farmers worked to grow the largest onions they could, but the era of the supersized onion appears to be over. The public now wants smaller onions that can be used in recipes found online, said Cliff Riner, UGA Extension coordinator for Tattnall County. “The onion varieties we have now will get as big as you will let them,” Riner said. “When we first had the ability to grow these colossal onions, there was a premium for that size. But now most recipes on the Food Net-

work and other places call for one large onion or two medium onions, so that’s what the market is calling for.” To dovetail perfectly with market demand, farmers should produce about 60 percent jumbo onions, with 3- to 4-inch circumferences, and about 40 percent medium onions, with 2- to 3-inch circumferences. However, growing those smaller onions is trickier than one might expect.

Shrinking onions If farmers simply pull the onions out of their fields earlier, they won’t be as sweet. People expect a certain quality and taste from Vidalia onions, and to maintain that quality each onion has to stay in the ground for a certain amount of time, Riner said. The challenge is to slow the

See Onion, Page 9

inducted into the hall of fame. Edna Wilson, wife of the late Homer Wilson, noted that it’s wonderful and a blessing to be a part of what some call “old Gainesville.” Regarding the late Wilson and Bruce’s poultry and feed company, she added that they strived to provide for their families and for the community. “We really have been connected to a great family that has prepared for us well,” she said. l Friend of Agriculture — Mike Giles, president of the Georgia Poultry Federation. Giles, who grew up on a family farm that produced row crops, has been with the state’s poultry federation for the past 12 years. “I’ve been involved with agriculture my entire life,” he said. “Receiving this award in a place that is now my home is a tremendous honor.” l Farmer of the Year — Payton Edge, Edge Farms. At 22, Edge is still very much a young farmer, but is still one that has been involved with agricul-

Vidalia onion time: This year’s Vidalia onion season is well underway. Farmers are also working to meet customer demand of smaller-sized onions and are making efforts to reduce the size of some of the large onions.

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•Awards (Continued from page 1)

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ture his entire life. Edge produces beef cattle, as well as grain at his family farm in northern Hall County. “I’ve been farming all my life; it’s what I do — everyday,” he said. “Winning this award is just such a great honor.” l Outstanding Agribusiness — Dori Bishop, owner of Pony Perfect Party. Pony Perfect Party, which has been in business since 1994, is not only a place for birthday parties featuring pony rides, but also a place where children, and adults, can see and get a real handson sense of farming with horses, donkeys, sheep, pigs, goats and more. Bishop noted the educational attributes of interacting with the farm animals. “It’s rewarding to see kids come to a real farm and just have the best time,” she said. “And now, some of the kids that first came to the farm are now grown up and are bringing their own children to the farm; and seeing this has been a real wonderful experience.”

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GEORGIA AG NEWS, May 2012

Ice cream maker is named 2012 Flavor of GA champion By Merritt Melancon Merritt Melancon/UGA

Flavor of Georgia grand champion: Nicki Schroeder, of High Road Craft Ice Cream in Atlanta, scoops a serving of ice cream for the judges at the 2012 Flavor of Georgia Food Product Contest. Schroeder and her husband, Keith, were the grand champions of the annual food contest with their Brown Butter Praline Ice Cream.

Special to Georgia Ag News

ATLANTA — High Road Craft Ice Cream and Sorbet of Atlanta was selected as the grand champion of the recent 2012 Flavor of Georgia Food Product Contest. Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Gary Black and Gov. Nathan Deal were on hand to announce the winners as part of Georgia Agriculture Awareness Day at the Georgia Freight Depot in downtown Atlanta. The annual contest, conducted by the University of Georgia Center for Agribusiness and Economic Development, is a chance for food businesses to showcase their new products. “Flavor of Georgia is a unique opportunity for entrepreneurs to gain publicity and exposure for their products,” said Sharon P. Kane, food business development specialist with the UGA CAED. “It’s also a chance for them to network with other Merritt Melancon is a news editor with the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.

See Champion, Page 10

•Truelson (Continued from page 5)

White County

Farmers exChange “Georgia’s largest Southern States independent dealer!” Serving Northeast Georgia since 1928

merge the whole cake in butter-rum syrup while it’s still warm. She also has a category of lost recipes that she calls “once upon a box.” These are recipes that were printed on food boxes and other containers from companies like Nestle and Pillsbury. As a journalist, she is as interested in the story behind the recipe as she is in the recipe itself. “It’s not just the exact recipe that people are after, it’s the memory of everything that went with it,” she said. Rogers is not the only one taking such an interest in America’s vintage recipes and food past. The Southern Foodways Alliance, a non-profit group based at the University of Mississippi, is documenting and celebrating the diverse food cultures of the South.

•Wilburn (Continued from page 5)

See us for your Mother’s Day flowers! Vegetable plants from Bonnie Plants and a large selection of spring flower and garden seeds.

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old canning book or even the canning guide that came with your old canner. They are no longer current and could actually prove to be dangerous. Out of date processing times and methods could expose your family and friends to food poisoning if foods are canned improperly. The sources of reliable, research-based, current information on food preservation offered through the UGA Cooperative Extension are amazing. Take a few minutes to check out the web site whether

Interest in vintage recipes is even spreading to a few popular chefs, she noted. These chefs are particularly interested in recipes that predate canned goods and convenience foods. Some of these early recipes are found in community and church recipe books, including those printed during the 1920s by a grassroots organization, Farm Bureau. Rogers’ goal is to make her web site (http://www. lostrecipesfound.com) more interactive. She wants to turn it into a national forum for people to locate lost recipes by dialoging with others who may have old cookbook collections of their own. She also plans to add audio and video capability to share stories of recipes found. There is indeed a story behind every lost recipe found and a common theme that food is often part of our fondest memories.

you are a beginner or a seasoned pro. I want to personally thank Dr. Elizabeth Andress, professor, Extension foods specialist and director of the National Center for Home Food Preservation, and Dr. Judy Harrison, professor, Extension foods specialist for their years of commitment in developing and maintaining the web site and food preservation book. They are the recognized experts in the science of food preservation in the United States, and we are very fortunate to have them right here at the University of Georgia.

GEORGIA AG NEWS, May 2012

Lodge at Unicoi closing for renovations on Dec. 1 Re-opening set for Fall 2013 HELEN — The lodge and conference center at one of North Georgia’s most popular state parks will soon get a major renovation, notes the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. Once complete, Unicoi State Park visitors will enjoy improved guest rooms and meeting facilities, a beautiful courtyard, additional dining options and much more. During renovation, the lodge and restaurant will close, but the park’s campground, cottages, beach, picnic shelters and other facilities will remain open. Guests will still be able to enjoy ranger programs such as guided hikes. Officials from the Georgia DNR expect to close the lodge on Dec. 1, 2012, with the projected re-opening in the fall of 2013. “Unicoi State Park is one of Georgia’s premier destinations, bringing thousands of people to Helen and our mountains,” said DNR Com-

missioner Mark Williams. “However, the aging facilities have lost their luster and revenue has been declining. It’s important for us to invest in the future of this property so that it remains a major attraction, as well as an economic benefit to White County and the state.” While the basic layout of the lodge, conference center, restaurant and room clusters will not change, visitors will notice many improvements, DNR said. These include, but are not limited to: l A new lodge entrance and lobby will welcome overnight guests to the 97,468-squarefoot facility. Accessibility will be improved through a new lobby elevator, land grading and numerous ramps throughout the grounds. Traffic flow at the drop-off area will be improved. l To accommodate a greater variety of guest rooms, the number of rooms will be reduced from 100 to 97. Overnight guests will be able to choose from double, queen, king, suite and loft configu-

•Onion (Continued from page 7)

growth rate of the onion, so that it can fully ripen in the field before it becomes the size of a softball. “We’re trying to slow down these race-horse onions,” Riner said. Farmers have been working for the past few years with Extension onion experts, like Riner and Torrance, to find the varieties and the growing conditions that will produce smaller onions. They’ve tried different varieties, crop spacing and fertilization and irrigation methods to control the size of the onions. Shoppers should start to see more medium-sized Vidalia onions in their produce departments soon.

rations. All will feature flatscreen televisions and Internet access. l The current courtyard which is surrounded by guest room clusters will be redesigned with a fire pit, more seating areas, event space and landscaping. A nearby playground will add to the family atmosphere. l Groups as large as 500 people will enjoy new conference facilities, more break-out rooms and seating areas, and improved lighting and audio. l A new grill and lounge will expand the park’s dining options, with indoor and outdoor seating, as well as televisions for watching sports. The current restaurant will keep its trademark stone fireplace and buffet, but will be brighter and modernized. “Unicoi State Park’s guests will enjoy a much better experience with new, fresh guest rooms and top-notch meeting facilities,” said State Park Director Becky Kelley. “We envision conference attendees and weekend travelers enjoying dinner and refreshments

Strong crop Because of the early spring weather, some farmers have already harvested part of their crop, but most are just kicking off harvest season now, he said. Despite the abnormally warm winter, the crop is shaping up well. It looks like farmers will be sending a solid supply of Vidalia onions into the market this year, Torrance said. The 100 growers certified to grow Vidalia onions farm about 12,000 acres and produce about 5 million 40-pound boxes of onions each season, according to the Vidalia Onion Committee. Cooks looking for new ways to use Vidalia onions, large and small, can visit the onion committee’s web site at http://www.vidaliaonion.org for inspiration and new recipes.

out on the new grill’s patio, as well as weddings and parties in the beautiful courtyard.” Stevens & Wilkinson and Breedlove Land Planning are the architects and landscape design firm selected to handle the project, funded by $8.9 million in general obligation bonds. While the lodge and conference center are closed, park guests will still be able to camp, stay in cabins and rent picnic shelters inside Unicoi State Park. They can enjoy several miles of hiking and biking trails, swimming in the cool mountain lake, ranger programs, geocaching, fishing, birding and other activities. Large groups that would

normally use the conference facilities will be referred to the three other Georgia State Park lodges: Amicalola Falls in Dawsonville, Little Ocmulgee in McRae and George T. Bagby on Lake Walter F. George, DNR added. “We want to emphasize that Unicoi’s lodge, restaurant and meeting facilities are still open for most of 2012,” said Kelley, “so our visitors have a wonderful summer and fall to look forward to. We’ll be accepting lodge reservations through the end of this November.” More information about the park can be obtained at http://www.GaStateParks.org/ Unicoi; or by calling 800-8647275.

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

Seasonal trout streams are open in North GA SOCIAL CIRCLE — More than 1 million trout will be stocked by the end of this year, thanks to efforts by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Division and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. In fact, many streams were stocked by the end of March, the department noted. “The mild winter gave us great growing conditions for trout in our hatcheries, and good stream flows this spring will give us the opportunity to spread the fish out,” said John Lee Thomson, acting trout stocking coordinator for the Georgia WRD. Some popular seasonal streams include Cooper Creek in Union County, Sarah’s Creek in Rabun County, Dicks Creek in Lumpkin County and Johns Creek in Floyd County. Anglers should note that two popular streams, Boggs Creek in Lumpkin County and Wildcat Creek in Rabun County, will not be accessible to vehicles and will not be stocked with trout for an extended period. Tornado damage clean-up continues in the Boggs Creek watershed, while the Wildcat Creek Road, affected by a winter landslide, will undergo repairs. Trout stocking in these two streams will resume when the public access roads can be reopened. Anglers must possess both a current Georgia fishing license and a trout license to fish in designated trout waters and to fish

GEORGIA AG NEWS, May 2012

•Champion (Continued from page 8)

food entrepreneurs and industry experts.”

Brown Butter Praline High Road’s Brown Butter Praline Ice Cream was one of 25 products sampled and judged by a panel of food brokers, buyers and other food industry experts. In addition to winning the overall grand champion, High Road Craft Ice Cream took home first place in the competition’s dairy category. Husband and wife team Nicki and Keith Schroeder have been producing their small-batch ice creams since April 2010. Their products are featured at Whole Foods marSee Trout, Page 12 kets throughout the Southeast, Serving the Poultry and Food Processing Industry Since 1976 as well as Fresh Market stores nationwide. High Road Craft Ice Cream’s Caffeine and Cacao flavor ice cream won first place in the dairy division during the 2011 Flavor of Georgia competition. Nicki Schroeder handles the Serving theCampbell, Poultry Diamond, Hersey, Featuring products by Apollo, marketing side of the business Jet, Powers, Stockham andIndustry WilkersonSince to name a few. and Food Processing 1976 while her husband Keith, who Featuring products by Apollo, is a chef, handles product deWith over 8,000 velopment. They both feel that items in stock, Campbell, Diamond, Hersey, the Flavor of Georgia comOur #1Stockham Product and Jet, Powers, petition is the ideal place to is Service! field-test new flavors before Wilkerson to name a few. they go to market. “It’s really a good way to get feedback,” said Keith SchroWe offer a variety of products eder. “You get young and old, which include: Hangers, Heaters, rural and urban here in the Hose Fittings, Insulation, Labels, same place. You don’t see that Pumps, Saws, Stainless Steel, very often, and it’s important Thermometers, Tools, Tubing, because different people have Valves and Poultry Specialty items. different tastes.” High Road Craft ice cream and 24 other finalists were Contact us at 770-536-0517 chosen from around 115 ensales@industrialpipega.com tries from all across Georgia.

Innovations An army of food industry experts — including chefs, grocery buyers, food service personnel and agricultural marketing executives — rated the products based on qualities like innovation, use of Georgia theme, market potential and flavor, said James Daniels, a UGA CAED food business development specialist. “Everybody has been saying this is the best one so far,” said Daniels, who has been for tallying the Flavor of Georgia scores for several years. “I can tell from the results. All the scores were pretty close. There wasn’t a large spread.” 2012 Flavor of Georgia competition Judge Brent Demarest, a produce purchaser for Whole Foods, enjoyed most of the products he sampled. “It can be difficult for a small producer, just starting out, to get a distributor or to have the contacts they need to sit down with someone at a store like Whole Foods,” Demarest said. Showcase events like the 2012 Flavor of Georgia competition help entrepreneurs get the word out about their products. The events also give retailers the chance to find quality local products their customers are starting to demand. “There is a big push for local food right now,” Demarest said. “People are very interested in knowing what they are eating, knowing where it came from and how far it traveled and knowing that they’re money is staying their community.” Category winners This year’s category winners were: l Confections — Richard

Byne, of Byne Blueberry Farm of Waynesboro, won with his Dark Chocolate Blueberries. l Jams, jellies and sauces — Lauri Jo Bennett, of Lauri Jo’s Southern Style Canning in Norman Park, won with her Muscadine Pepper Jelly. l Barbecue and hot sauces — Griffin Bufkin, of Southern Soul Barbecue in St. Simons Island, won with Sweet Georgia Soul Signature BBQ Sauce. l Other products — Mercier Orchards, of Blue Ridge, won with the company’s Sparkling Apple Cider. l Snack foods — Diane Pfeifer, of Strawberry Patch and Grits Bits in Atlanta, won with her Grits Bits Vidalia Onion Baked Cheese Snacks. l Meat — Debra McFadden-Bryant, of GeeChee Girl Foods of Albany, won with her Seafood Gumbo. l People’s Choice — Cindy Fulghum, of Three Generations of Georgia in Dewy Rose, won the People’s Choice Award with her Three Generations of Georgia Chicken Log. Winners and finalists earn the right to have their products stamped with the 2012 Flavor of Georgia logo. Flavor of Georgia is only a starting point for many of the category winners, Kane said. She followed up with the 2011 winners and found that between 70 percent and 80 percent experienced increased interest in their products, sales and business contacts as a result of the contest. The annual contest is sponsored in partnership with the Center of Innovation for Agribusiness, Office of Gov. Nathan Deal, Walton EMC, Georgia Department of Agriculture, the Georgia Agribusiness Council and UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Department of Food Science and Technology.

GEORGIA AG NEWS, May 2012

For blooms, fertilize crape myrtles in spring By William G. Tyson Special to Georgia Ag News

SPRINGFIELD — Southern gardeners love crape myrtles, but unfortunately most don’t know how to properly care for them. University of Georgia Cooperative Extension agents regularly answer questions regarding proper care and maintenance of the popular flowering tree. The keys to success with crape myrtles include adequate sunlight, proper soil pH, good drainage, proper pruning, adequate fertilization, proper mulching and insect control. l They love the sun. Crape myrtles need full sun — eight hours or more of direct sun daily — in order to thrive and bloom Crape myrtles will not be their best with less than eight hours of direct sun light. Gardeners should check the sun patterns in their yards before planting crape myrtles. Crape myrtles thrive in slightly acidic soils with a pH of about 6 to 6.5. If the pH level is off, the plant will not use fertilizer properly and the gardener will be left with substandard crape myrtles. You should take a soil sample to your local Extension office for testing if you don’t know your soil’s pH.

See Blooms, Page 13 William G. Tyson is the University of Georgia Cooperative Extension coordinator for Effingham County.

Keith Weller, USDA Agricultural Research Service, Bugwood.org

Crape myrtle: A favorite found in many landscapes and yards, but many gardeners are not practicing proper care to get the most from their crape myrtles.

GEORGIA AG NEWS, May 2012

Bald eagle nestings gaining in Georgia SOCIAL CIRCLE — Bald eagle populations are soaring in Georgia. According to preliminary results, Georgia Department of Natural Resources aerial surveys in January and March documented 158 occupied nesting territories, 116 successful nests and 190 young fledged. The totals are up from last year’s 142 nesting territories, 111 successful nests and 175 eaglets. The number of bald eagle nests in Georgia is steadily climbing, underscoring the rebound of our national bird from near-extinction through much of its range 40 years ago. Nests numbered in the single digits in Georgia when survey leader Jim Ozier started searching for them more than two decades ago. This comeback was powered in part by Georgians who support the Georgia Wildlife Conservation Fund through their state income tax returns, the department noted, adding that the program has benefited more than 1,000 Georgia plant and animal species listed as species of conservation concern, including bald eagles, which are continuing to

nest in new areas across the state. “They’re now in places I never would have thought they’d show up,” said Ozier, a Nongame Conservation Section program manager with the DNR’s Wildlife Resources Division. Examples this year include the campus of Berry College near Rome and a rural Piedmont Georgia farm that is not near a major reservoir or river, the usual source of fish, birds and turtles that eagles prey on. Eagle populations in Georgia are concentrated along the coast and around reservoirs and rivers. One new nest that proved no surprise is on Lake Lanier. Although an eagle nest had not been documented before at the 38,000-acre North Georgia lake, bald eagles have often been seen there. The number of young eagles fell this year just shy of 2010, when the survey counted 194 eaglets. Ozier said warmer than usual weather might have resulted in eagles nesting and raising their young earlier, with some eaglets fledging before the survey was

taken. Yet, fluctuations are also expected. The public is encouraged to contact Ozier to notify him of any eagle nests they see, reporting them online (http://www. georgiawildlife.com/node/1322) or by phone at 478-994-1438. These reports often lead to nests not monitored before. DNR also notes that it works with landowners to help protect eagle nests on their property.

Terry L. Spivey, Terry Spivey Photography, Bugwood.org

Bald eagle: The symbol of America: the Georgia Department of Natural Resources says its surveys show nests of bald eagles still show signs of gaining ground in Georgia.

•Trout (Continued from page 10

Lindsey Lewis, U.S. Fish and Wildlife, Bugwood.org

Brown trout: Seasonal trout fishing is open in streams throughout North Georgia. The Georgia Department of Natural Resources notes that the season is open until Oct. 31. More information can be obtained at http://www.gofishgeorgia.com.

for or possess trout, WRD notes. Licenses can be purchased online and at various local sporting good dealers. The daily limit is eight trout on general regulation trout waters. Anglers are reminded to respect private prop-

erty rights along streams flowing through private lands and to obtain permission before fishing on private property. Where can you get a license? Buy it online or find a list of retail license vendors at http://

www.georgiawildlife.com/recreational-licenses, or by phone at 800-366-2661. For those seeking additional county-specific trout fishing information, this can be obtained at http://www.gofishgeorgia. com, where current Georgia Sport Fishing Regulations, a complete list of stocked streams, a Northeast Georgia fishing guide, and the award-winning “Trout Streams of Georgia” map are available. Printed copies of the regulations and trout stream map are available at all Wildlife Resources Division Fisheries Management offices and at some official fishing license dealers. Season — Seasonal trout streams are open to fishing beginning the last Saturday in March through Oct. 31 every year. Seasonal trout streams are closed to fishing for all fish species at all other times, the department notes.

USDA urges Americans to prevent invasive pests, protect agriculture WASHINGTON — The USDA’s Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service dedicated the month of April to sharing information about the threat that invasive plant pests, diseases and harmful weeds pose to America’s fruits, vegetables, trees and other plants — and how the public can help prevent their spread. “Invasive pests hit close to home and threaten the things we value,” said Rebecca A. Blue, deputy undersecretary for USDA’s Marketing and Regulatory Programs. “We need the public’s help because these hungry pests can have a huge impact on the items we use in everyday life, from the fabric in our clothing, the food on our table, the lumber used to build our home and the flowers in our garden. During one of the most successful periods in history for U.S. agriculture, it is important that we step up our efforts to educate Americans about USDA’s good work to protect our nation’s food, fiber, feed and fuel from invasive pests.” Invasive pests are non-native species that feed on America’s agricultural crops, trees and other plants. These “hungry pests” have cost the U.S. billions of dollars and wreak havoc on the environment. USDA and U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Customs and Border Protection — working closely with state agriculture departments and industry — are dedicated to preventing the introduction and spread of invasive pests, the departments noted. The

See Pests, Page 14

GEORGIA AG NEWS, May 2012

Discouraging nuisance wildlife from causing issues SOCIAL CIRCLE — What makes an animal a “nuisance”? Most wildlife never come close to people. In fact, many people enjoy seeing such animals and believe that having them nearby adds to the value of their land. According to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Division, animals such as deer, coyotes, bears, raccoons, foxes and skunks, however, often get labeled as a nuisance due to their sometimes intrusive and destructive habits in personal yards. “You can make a huge difference on whether or not that animal truly becomes a nuisance,” says Alex Coley, assistant chief with Game Management. “With just some simple preventative tactics, you can find a way to still enjoy nature in your backyard, without presenting an all-access pass to your yard and your home.” The WRD notes the following as basic tips to help keep wildlife from becoming a nuisance: l Don’t feed wildlife. l Keep items, such as grills, pet

•Blooms (Continued from page 11)

l Prune in late winter, fertilize in early spring. Late winter is the time to prune crape myrtles but gardeners don’t need to prune all of their crape myrtles every year. Some trees may not need to be pruned. Gardeners should prune the trees so that they maintain a natural shape and to thin out branches and allow light into the canopy. You should not cut off the top of your crape myrtle trees. This pruning method is so drastic it is often referred to as “crape murder.” To maximize spring growth

Alfred Viola, Northeastern University, Bugwood.org

Coyotes: The Georgia Department of Natural Resources offers information on how to discourage nuisance animals, such as coyotes, through its web site — http://www.georgiawildlife.com/nuisancewildlife.

food or bird feeders, off-limits. Clean and store grills when not in use, keep

and summer bloom, gardeners should fertilize their crape myrtles in early spring just prior to new growth. Fertilizers like 8-8-8, 10-1010, 12-4-8 or 16-4-8 will work fine and are ideal for crape myrtles but you shouldn’t go over board. Over fertilizing the trees will cause excess growth and reduce the number of blooms on each tree. Your soil test results will include a recommendation for the proper fertilizer. You can apply the tree’s fertilizer directly over its mulch. l Mulch to fight weeds, trap moisture. Gardeners should mulch

pet food indoors or feed pets indoors, and refill bird feeders infrequently and

their crape myrtles after planting to conserve moisture, reduce weeds and insulate roots against extreme temperatures. There should be a layer of about 3 to 5 inches surrounding the tree. Gardeners should plan to mulch an area larger than the planting hole. Insect damage is a frequent problem on crape myrtles, and aphids cause much of that damage. Left unchecked, aphids will release bodily fluids onto the foliage, and the resulting honeydew can lead to sooty mold, a black discoloration that can occur in the summer and fall. Sooty mold usually causes

in small amounts. l Make trash cans inaccessible. Keep lids securely fastened or store trash cans in a secured location until trash pick-up. “Wildlife can, and will, take advantage of ‘easy food’ opportunities. So, it is our job, as homeowners, to ensure that we are keeping these non-natural foods away from wildlife — for our safety and for the animals,” Coley said. For additional help, WRD has provided a web site page to help with solving nuisance issues — http://www. georgiawildlife.com/nuisancewildlife. This page contains information about the following: l Options for handling nuisance wildlife, including a list of professional nuisance trappers. l “Common Nuisance Wildlife in Georgia” Fact Sheets that include tips about dealing with the various species. l Information on wildlife rehabilitators, managing your land for wildlife, guides on rabies and more.

little damage, but it can reduce the plant’s vigor. You can plant crape myrtle cultivars that are resistant to aphids or treat other cultivars with insecticides to reduce sooty mold. As always, follow label

directions on all pesticides. By following the practices outlined here, your crape myrtles should perform their best this growing season and in years to come.

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GEORGIA AG NEWS, May 2012

Pampas grass is plume-filled landscape addition orating should be cut as soon as they have fully emerged. They can be used in dried arrangements immediately after harvesting or dried by hanging upside down for later use. If mature plumes are brought indoors, their delicate fluffy flowers can become a bigger problem than a shedding dog or cat. To prevent shedding, spray mature plumes with hair

By Frank M. Watson Special to Georgia Ag News

WASHINGTON, Ga. — Pampas grass can be a very attractive and functional plant when used correctly in landscapes. Because it grows rapidly into a massive plant, pampas grass is an excellent screening plant for sunny locations. It can also be used as a specimen plant in isolated locations in large lawns. A large perennial grass native to Brazil, Argentina and Chile, pampas grass (Cortaderia selloana) grows in large clumps 8- to 10-feet high. Unfortunately, pampas grass is often incorrectly used as a foundation plant. It is purchased from a nursery as a small plant and planted close to homes. The plant will look great the first year, but after several years it grows so large that it blocks the view of the home. In addition to blocking views, pampas grass can cut those who come in contact with it. When selecting sites for pampas grass, consider the danger to passersby from contact with the very sharp, sawlike edges of the leaves.

Care Pampas grass should be planted where it will receive full sun most of the day. In shady areas, it will grow very slowly and usually will not produce plumes. Once pampas grass is established, it is practically trouble free. There is no need to spray for insects or any other pests. It will grow in most soils and responds favorably to frequent fertilization. To obtain good growth and plume production, pampas grass should be fertil-

spray. Striking feathery plumes combined with large, graceful clumps of foliage make pampas grass an interesting addition to most landscapes when planted in the right location. Frank M. Watson is the University of Georgia Cooperative Extension agent in Wilkes County, Ga.

•Pests (Continued from page 12)

Sharon Dowdy/UGA

Pampas grass: As a landscape specimen, pampas grass can quickly grow into a massive plant. In late summer, pampas grass can produce plumes that increase the plant’s height to 12 feet.

ized four times a year with a complete fertilizer (10-10-10) at a rate of 2 pounds per 100 square feet. Before new growth begins in the spring, prune away any brown leaves and dead materials that accumulate at the plant base. If winter is particularly harsh and a great deal of browning has occurred, the entire plant can be rejuvenated by cutting it back to within 2 feet of ground level with lopping shears or a chain saw. Move slowly and wear jeans, a long-sleeve shirt and gloves when pruning pampas grass. Again, the sharp leaf blades will cut hands, arms, legs and

other unprotected parts of the body.

Plumes In late summer, pampas grass produces silvery white or pinkish silken plumes that raise the plant’s height to 12 feet. Female plants produce plumes that are broad and full due to silky hairs covering the tiny flowers. Male plumes appear narrow and thin because of the absence of hair on the flowers. The difference in appearance is not obvious at first glance. Pampas grass plumes are highly prized for indoor decorations. Plumes used for dec-

goal is to safeguard agriculture and natural resources from the entry, establishment and spread of animal and plant pests and noxious weeds. But federal and state agencies can’t do it alone. It requires everyone’s help to stop the unintended introduction and spread of invasive pests. The numberone action someone can take is to leave hungry pests behind. USDA urges the public to visit http://www.HungryPests.com to learn more about invasive pests and what they can do to protect American agricultural resources by preventing the spread of these threats. USDA notes the following as actions that people can take: l Buy Local, Burn Local. — Invasive pests and larvae can hide and ride long distances in firewood. Don’t give them a free ride to start a new infestation — buy firewood where you burn it. l Plant Carefully — Buy your plants from a reputable source and avoid using invasive plant species at all costs. l Do not bring or mail fresh fruits, vegetables, or plants into your state or another state unless agricultural inspectors have cleared them beforehand. l Cooperate with any agricultural quarantine restrictions and allow authorized agricultural workers access to your property for pest or disease surveys. l Keep It Clean — Wash outdoor gear and tires between fishing, hunting or camping trips. Clean lawn furniture and other outdoor items when moving from one home to another. l Learn To Identify — If you see signs of an invasive pest or disease, write down or take a picture of what you see, and then report it at http://www.HungryPests.com. l Speak Up — Declare all agricultural items to customs officials when returning from international travel. Contact USDA to find out what’s allowed: Ph: 301-851-2046 for questions about plants; Ph: 301-851-3300 for questions about animals.

GEORGIA AG NEWS, May 2012

More young people see Georgia farm family named runner-up in national contest opportunity in farming The Associated Press

MACON — Chad and Julie Carlton of Aragon in Polk County were one of three couples named runners-up for the American Farm Bureau Federation Young Farmer and Rancher Achievement Award held during the 93rd Annual AFBF Convention. The achievement award recognizes young farmers and ranchers age 35 or younger who have excelled in their farm operations and exhibited superior leadership abilities. Participants were evaluated on a combination of their farm’s growth and financial progress, Farm Bureau leadership and leadership outside of Farm Bureau. The Carltons raise freerange laying hens and sell the eggs directly to consumers and restaurants in the metroAtlanta area. They also have a herd of grass-fed beef cattle and raise free-range turkeys and blueberries. They also market their commodities on their web site — http://www. carltonfarmsnaturalfoods. com. The Carltons house their hens in chicken houses with retractable sides that allow the hens to go outside and roam within portable fencing, which protects the hens from predators and allows the Carltons to rotate the ground on which the hens roam. The Carltons’ flock has grown to 4,000 birds that produce around 1,050 dozen eggs weekly. Chad Carlton delivers the eggs directly to their customers in metro Atlanta three times a week on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. Based solely on their application, the Carltons were

Special

Young farmers award: Georgia Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall, left, congratulates GFB members Julie and Chad Carlton for being named runners-up for the American Farm Bureau Federation’s Young Farmers & Ranchers Achievement Award for this year. The Carltons, who raise free-range laying hens in Polk County, were one of three couples named as runners-up for the contest.

ranked in the top 10 out of 34 contestants in the competition, Farm Bureau noted. As one of the 10 finalists, they were interviewed and were selected one of three couples to be named runners-up in the competition. “It’s an honor to be recognized by an organization that we believe in so much. Applying for this award forced us to critically analyze our farm, which will help us make future decisions,” Chad Carlton said of competing for the award. “I would encourage all Georgia Farm Bureau young farmer families to set their goals to win this contest as we did. Win or not, competing will make you a better farmer, and we met several great people in the process of competing.” As runners-up in the national competition, the Carltons received a Case IH Farmall 65A tractor, courtesy of Case

IH, a $5,000 savings bond and a STIHL Farm Boss, both courtesy of STIHL. “I’m very proud of how well Chad and Julie represented Georgia Farm Bureau in the national competition,” said Georgia Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall. “The Carltons have worked hard to build their farm from the ground up while providing their customers with nutritious food. It’s gratifying to see they have been rewarded for their efforts on the national level.” The Carltons were also named the winners of the Georgia Farm Bureau Young Farmer Achievement Award during the Georgia Farm Bureau Convention in December. More information about Georgia Farm Bureau can be obtained at http://www.gfb. org.

MILWAUKEE — A Wisconsin factory worker worried about layoffs became a dairy farmer. An employee at a Minnesota nonprofit found an escape from her cubicle by buying a vegetable farm. A nuclear engineer tired of office bureaucracy decided to get into cattle ranching in Texas. While fresh demographic information on U.S. farmers won’t be available until after the next agricultural census is done next year, there are signs more people in their 20s and 30s are going into farming: Enrollment in university agriculture programs has increased, as has interest in farmer-training programs. Young people are turning up at farmers markets and are blogging, tweeting and promoting their agricultural endeavors through other social media. The young entrepreneurs typically cite two reasons for going into farming: Many find the corporate world stifling and see no point in sticking it out when there’s little job security; and demand for locally grown and organic foods has been strong enough that even in the downturn they feel confident they can sell their products. Laura Frerichs, 31, of Hutchinson, Minn., discovered her passion for farming about a year after she graduated from college with an anthropology degree. She planned to work in economic development in Latin America and thought she ought to get some experience working

See Farming, Page 16

•Farming (Continued from page 15)

on a farm. She did stints on five farms, mostly vegetable farms, and fell in love with the work. Frerichs and her husband now have their own organic farm, and while she doesn’t expect it to make them rich, she’s confident they’ll be able to earn a living. “There’s just this growing consciousness around locally grown foods, around organic foods,” she said. “Where we are in the Twin Cities there’s been great demand for that.” Farming is inherently risky: Drought, flooding, wind and other weather extremes can all destroy a year’s work. And with farmland averaging $2,140 per acre across the U.S. but two to four times that much in the Midwest and California, the start-up costs can be daunting. Still, agriculture fared better than many parts of the economy during the recession, and USDA predicts record profits for farmers as a whole this year. “People are looking at farm income, especially the increase in asset values, and seeing a really positive story about our economy,” said USDA senior economist Mary Clare Ahearn, citing preliminary statistics. “Young

GEORGIA AG NEWS, May 2012

people are viewing agriculture as a great opportunity and saying they want to be a part of it.” That’s welcome news to the government. More than 60 percent of farmers are over the age of 55, and without young farmers to replace them when they retire the nation’s food supply would depend on fewer and fewer people. “We’d be vulnerable to local economic disruptions, tariffs, attacks on the food supply, really, any disaster you can think of,” said Poppy Davis, who coordinates the USDA’s programs for beginning farmers and ranchers. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has called for 100,000 new farmers within the next few years, and Congress has responded with proposals that would provide young farmers with improved access to USDA support and loan programs. One beginning farmer is Gabrielle Rojas, 34, from the central Wisconsin town of Hewitt. As a rebellious teen all she wanted to do was leave her family’s farm and find a career that didn’t involve cows. But she changed her mind after spending years in dead-end jobs in a factory and restaurant. “In those jobs I’m just a number, just a

time-clock number,” Rojas said. “But now I’m doing what I love to do. If I’m having a rough day or I’m a little sad because the sun’s not shining or my tractor’s broken, I can always go out and be by the cattle. That always makes me feel better.” Rojas got help in changing careers from an apprenticeship program paid for by the USDA, which began giving money in 2009 to universities and nonprofit groups that help train beginning farmers. The grants helped train about 5,000 people the first year. This year, the USDA estimates more than twice as many benefited. One of the groups that received a grant is Midwest Organic and Sustainable Education Service, or MOSES. The Spring Valley, Wis., chapter teaches farming entrepreneurs how to cope with price swings and what to do in cases of catastrophic weather. MOSES also organizes field days, where would-be farmers tour the operations of successful farms to learn and share tips. Attendance is up 20 percent this year, director Faye Jones said, and some outings that used to attract 30 or 40 people have drawn as many as 100, most between the ages of 18 and 30. “I think for many people, farming has

been a lifelong dream, and now the timing is right,” she said. Among the reasons she cited: the lifestyle, working in the fresh air and being one’s own boss. If farming is beginning to sound like an appealing career, there are downsides. The work involves tough physical labor, and vacations create problems when there are crops to be harvested and cows to be milked. In addition, many farmers need second jobs to get health insurance or make ends meet. As the USDA notes, three-fifths of farms have sales of less than $10,000 a year, although some may be growing fruit trees or other crops that take a few years to develop. None of those factors dissuaded 27-yearold Paul Mews. He left a high-paying job as a nuclear engineer last year to become a cattle rancher in Menard, Texas. His wife’s family has been ranching for generations, and Mews decided he’d much rather join his in-laws and be his own boss than continue shuffling paperwork at the plant. “When you’re self-employed it’s so much more fulfilling. You get paid what you’re worth,” he said. “It’s really nice that what you put into it is what you’re going to get back out.”

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