Animal Agriculture
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Sometimes, people wonder how our lives lead us to where we are—and I think I’m a good example of that. Many of you might not know that, despite being the Agriculture and Natural Resources Agent for Lincoln County, I didn’t actually grow up involved in agriculture. I spent my childhood in the suburbs of New…
Posted in: Animal Agriculture -
As I write this article, we are gearing up to host our first-ever Homesteading Conference at the Lincoln County Agriculture Center in collaboration with Wilkes and Hart County UGA Extension. Homesteading is often defined as a lifestyle focused on self-sufficiency—growing food, raising livestock, reducing waste, and learning sustainable skills. Many homesteaders eventually add livestock such…
Posted in: Animal Agriculture -
Animal behavior covers a wide range of topics, but most learning is rooted in behaviorism—the idea that behaviors are responses to stimuli and that learning happens when specific behaviors become linked to specific consequences. For example, if you touch a hot stove, you immediately pull your hand away to avoid being burned. In this case,…
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Since joining UGA Extension in 2019, I’ve had the privilege of seeing the Lincoln County Agriculture Center grow into an exciting community resource. Although the facility has been in operation as our local Extension office since early 2020, many community members may still be unfamiliar with what it offers. The Lincoln County Agriculture Center’s primary…
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With dove season and archery deer season now open, many Lincoln County residents are looking forward to an abundant harvest of wildlife for sport and sustenance. Whether you’re a hunter or homeowner, creating habitat for native wildlife on your property can provide opportunity for recreation and enjoyment and help conserve our natural resources and species.…
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Did you know that the Georgia State Gamebird is the Northern bobwhite quail? Historically, our state was known as an excellent quail-hunting destination due to the large amount of quail habitat we had. Since the 1960’s, Georgia has seen significant decline in quail populations and the number of quail hunters, primarily due to the loss…
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January 14th officially closed out the 2023-2024 hunting season for deer, and as I write this on January 10th, I’ve not so much as seen one from my stand since Thanksgiving. While the hunting season might be over, its never too early to start thinking about what you might want to change or improve for…
Posted in: Animal Agriculture -
The behavior of deer and other wildlife can vary greatly from season to season. Last week, we discussed how pre-rut, peak-rut, and post-rut deer behavior are different, and what implications that can have for hunters. In the later part of deer season, most animals are looking for the best food sources possible, and the shortest…
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Last week, we discussed some of the challenges that feral swine have brought to the Southeastern U.S. and why the feral swine population has become such an issue. It’s clear that this nuisance species is not going anywhere, so what can we do about them? Unfortunately, control and management of feral swine is not an…
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After being away for work last week, I was in for a surprise when I checked my game cameras. It seemed like my deer population had grown significantly. Now, I’m quite fond of these deer, but they can pose problems for homeowners who cherish their gardens and landscapes. The issue is that these beautiful ornamental…
Posted in: Animal Agriculture