ANR
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Based on preliminary damage assessments conducted by the Georgia Department of Agriculture, the Georgia Forestry Commission, and the University of Georgia, Hurricane Helene left behind an estimated $6.46 billion in damage to Georgia’s agriculture and forestry industries, more than three times the damage from Hurricane Michael in 2018. Georgia’s largest industry, agriculture contributes over $83…
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Earlier this year, I received a call from man who was urgently reporting a large number of spotted lanternflies (Lycorma delicatula) that were landing on trucks all over the depot. He was absolutely correct to call and report sighting them. These invasive planthoppers congregate in huge numbers, suck the sap from plants, and produce copious…
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On Wednesday, September 18, 2024, I had the honor of joining 29 arborists, tree care professionals, U.S. military veterans, and other volunteers at the Georgia National Cemetery in Canton for the 10th anniversary of Saluting Branches. Across the U.S. and in Puerto Rico, over 4,000 volunteers came together at 110 veteran-dedicated hospitals, homes, and cemeteries…
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er Service issues alerts about potential dangerous weather conditions, including floods. Alert messages include different words – watch, advisory, or warning – to indicate the level of danger. Watch– A flood watch means that widespread flooding is possible in the area specified in the alert. The flood is expected to happen 6-12 hours after heavy…
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Nature is generally successful in keeping our North Georgia hills and mountainsides stable and covered with verdant plant life. In home landscapes, however, slopes and hills can present challenges. When developing a management plan for hills, we need to address all the normal considerations of landscaping, such as soil and drainage, sun exposure, irrigation, and…
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September is National Preparedness Month, and the theme this year is “Start a Conversation.” I recommend starting that conversation with a question: “What could go wrong?” Risk assessment is an important component of emergency preparedness. Only after we identify or become aware of risks can we take steps to remove or mitigate risk factors. “What…
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Fall armyworms are an annual pest of pastures, hay fields, and lawns. They are actually caterpillars, not worms. The moths that lay the eggs that hatch into these grass-eating caterpillars hop-scotch north from Florida on spring and summer weather fronts. They land in pastures, fields, and lawns and lay eggs. After only a few days,…
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Walking down to the compost pile the other day, I noticed a line of dark spots on the ground. From my lofty five-foot height, they looked like tiny balls of fertilizer granules or little mounds of excavated earth – except they were the wrong color. I found a stick and scooped up some of the…
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As the drought intensified through July, landscapes showed progressive signs of stress. By the third week without rainfall, tree leaves turned colors and dropped prematurely. Plants stalled and stopped growing. Even under irrigation, lawns parched and turned brown. Despite receiving an average of 50 inches of rain each year, drought is usually part of our…
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You may have heard in recent weeks about dam failures following heavy rains. Two notable failures include Rapidan Dam in Minnesota, which began on June 25th, and the Nashville Reservoir in Illinois on July 16th. The Rapidan Dam became loaded with debris after storms knocked trees and other materials into the river. After two days…
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