Wildlife/Pond Management meeting

Feb 15, 2019 | Written by aec22711

The Wildlife/Pond Management meeting is next Thursday, February 21, 6:00 pm at the Lowndes County Extension office address: 2102 East Hill Ave Valdosta Georgia.

Below are the speakers/presenters and topics:

Stephen Spradley- Georgia Forestry Commission-

Hurricane damage to timber, Effects/benefits of Prescribed Fire with Wildlife Management

Dallas Ingram-GA DNR

Quail management and funding options

Dr. Gary Burtle -UGA

Aquatic weed control, Pond liming and fertilizing program, When and how to use chemical treatments, Grass carp stocking, Effects of shallow water on weed growth, And long term aquatic plant management.

Please call the office at (229) 333-5185 or email me a few days ahead if you plan to attend to register. Pesticide credit will be given for those who attend the class (Category: 21, 23, 26&10). Please let me know if you have any questions.

Joshua Dawson,

Joshua Dawson

Fort Valley State University

Ag and Natural Resources agent

Lowndes County Extension

Email: dawsonj01@fvsu.edu

Office: (229) 333-5185

Training for Farmers and Growers on Produce Safety Rule

Feb 11, 2019 | Written by aec22711

Training for Farmers and Growers on Produce Safety Rule
March 15, 2019

WHAT: This one-day workshop is being offered to produce growers. The training will cover the
standardized curriculum designed by the Produce Safety Alliance, which meets the regulatory
requirements of the Produce Safety Rule under FSMA (Food Safety Modernization Act). The course
will provide a foundation of Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) and co-management information, FSMA
Produce Safety Rule requirements, and details on how to develop a farm food safety plan.
Individuals who participate in this course are expected to gain a basic understanding of:

• Requirements in the FSMA Produce Safety Rule and how to meet them successfully;
• Microorganisms relevant to produce safety and where they may be found on the farm;
• How to identify microbial risks, practices that reduce risks, and how to begin implementing
produce safety practices on the farm; and
• Parts of a farm food safety plan and how to begin writing one.

WHEN: Friday, March 15th, 2019
8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
**Please bring $20 in exact change or check**

WHERE: Lowndes County Extension Office
2102 East Hill Avenue
Valdosta, Georgia 31601

WHO SHOULD ATTEND: Any produce grower who grows, packs, harvests, and/or holds covered produce,
makes over $25,000 in annual produce sales (on average, based on the past three years of sales),
and does not qualify for a Produce Safety Rule exemption is required to attend this training under
new federal regulations. As of January 2018, larger grower operations (with more than
$500,000 in annual sales) must comply with the Produce Safety Rule.

WHY: This PSA Grower Training Course satisfies the FSMA Produce Safety Rule requirement outlined
in §112.22(c), which requires ‘At least one supervisor or responsible party for your farm must have
successfully completed food safety training at least equivalent to that received under standardized
curriculum recognized as adequate by the Food and Drug Administration.’

REGISTRATION: To register, please follow the link: https://bit.ly/Lowndespsagt

Registration deadline: March 12th

Farm Business Education Conference

Feb 11, 2019 | Written by aec22711

UGA CAES, Extension partner with SBDC to host Farm Business Education Conference

By Clint Thompson for CAES News

The University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences and UGA Cooperative Extension are partnering with the UGA Small Business Development Center to host a Farm Business Education Conference on Wednesday, Feb. 27 at the UGA Tifton Campus Conference Center.

The purpose of the conference is to help farmers learn more about the business aspect of farming. Industry experts will conduct sessions on value-added agricultural ventures and other topics relevant to growers.

“UGA Cooperative Extension is excited to once again be partnering with the UGA Small Business Development Center (SBDC). Each of us brings unique expertise and advice that together will result in better information for our clientele,” said Laura Perry Johnson, associate dean for UGA Extension.

Attendees will learn how to develop a business plan for their farming operation, including plans for effectively passing the business over to the next generation. Agricultural lenders will be on hand to offer tips on how to successfully obtain operating lines, real estate and farm loans and working capital funding. Certified human resource professionals will discuss how to manage employees of farms.

“When you think about farming, people understand there’s a product that’s being produced, but there’s a business side to farming too. Our goal is to assist new and existing farmers in understanding what is required to have a profitable season or assist with understanding new requirements that are coming down. The goal is to help educate on the business side of farming,” said Rob Martin, a business consultant with the UGA SBDC.

Martin, along with Sarah Cook from the Georgia Department of Agriculture, will conduct a session, “From Seed to Shelf,” where they will offer strategies for selling products in local, regional and national markets. Attendees also will have the opportunity to learn about food and production safety with different commodities.

“Each of these partners are part of Public Service and Outreach for the University of Georgia. We come together, pooling our resources; the UGA SBDC as the business side, Extension with their extensive knowledge of the industry and specific products, as well as the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. We will bring that information together to provide opportunities for people to learn,” Martin said.

Conference attendance cost is $49 and includes lunch. The conference will begin at 7:30 a.m. and conclude at 4 p.m. Those interested in attending should preregister at www.georgiasbdc.org/georgia-farm-business-education-conference.

For more information about UGA Extension, see extension.uga.edu.

Yellow Nutsedge/Cadre Resistance

Feb 6, 2019 | Written by aec22711

By Eric Prostko: In September 2017, after doing some preliminary screening (Figure 1), we collected yellow nutsedge tubers from a peanut field that were a strong suspect for resistance to Cadre (imazapic). We sent the tubers to BASF for further greenhouse testing and just got back the results. Unfortunately, it looks like this population of nutsedge has developed resistance to Cadre (Figures 2 and 3). On the positive side, it does not appear to have developed cross-resistance to Sandea/Permit (halosulfuron). In order to protect the grower’s privacy, I would prefer not to reveal the exact location of this field at this time.

Assuming adequate funding is obtained , I will be working very closely with our new teaching/research weed scientist on the main campus in Athens, Dr. Nick Basinger, to further investigate this issue. Dr. Basinger recently replaced Dr. Bill Vencill. If you are already aware of or become aware of peanut fields where Cadre has been used for yellow nutsedge control with less than optimum results, please let us know so that tubers can be collected from the field. At this point in time though, I believe that this discovery of resistance is most likely an isolated case.

Here are a few things to consider in regards to this issue, especially how it compares to the herbicide-resistant Palmer amaranth problems that we have been dealing with since 2004:

1) At this point in time, only 1 case of herbicide-resistance in yellow nutsedge has been officially confirmed world-wide. In 2013-2014, researchers from Arkansas confirmed halosulfuron resistance in a yellow nutsedge population collected from a rice field. For comparison, 61 cases of herbicide resistance in Palmer amaranth have been confirmed.

2) In Georgia, Cadre was first commercialized for use in peanut in 1996 so it took more than 20 years for this resistance to occur in yellow nutsedge. It took roughly 3-4 years for glyphosate resistance to evolve in Palmer amaranth after the introduction of RR soybeans (1996) and RR cotton (1997).

3) The GA problem site is a dryland field where peanuts were grown for 5 continuous years and Cadre was used every year (for economic reasons). This is atypical of the normal crop rotation sequences used by most Georgia peanut growers. Unlike glyphosate, Liberty and PPO herbicides, Cadre is not applied to fields on a yearly basis.

4) Yellow nutsedge can produce a large amount of seed but seed is not the primary propagation mechanism. Some research has shown that <1% of yellow nutsedge seeds can develop into viable seedlings. Seed is the only propagation mechanism for Palmer amaranth.

5) The primary mechanism of yellow nutsedge propagation is through tubers. In Georgia, a single yellow nutsedge plant, growing without competition in a bareground area, produced 700 tubers after 6 months of growth.

6) The primary mechanism of yellow nutsedge tuber dispersion in fields is through normal field operations such as tillage/disking and equipment movement (i.e. human action).

7) Foraging and soil disturbance from feral hogs has been reported to promote the long-term population maintenance of yellow nutsedge.

8) There could be also be some slight dispersion from waterfowl that prefer yellow nutsedge tubers as a food source (i.e. ducks, geese). However, a recently published study from Missouri reported that no intact nutsedge tubers were recovered from mallard ducks in 8 feeding trials. In these same feeding trials, 26% of Palmer amaranth seeds were viable after feeding.

Figure 1. Cadre and Sandea field screen on suspect resistant yellow nutsedge population in Georgia, 2017.

Figure 2. Suspect resistant yellow nutsedge population treated with Cadre 2AS @ 32 oz/A (8X rate), 21 DAT.

Figure 3. Susceptible yellow nutsedge population (left) and suspect resistant population (right) treated with various rates of Cadre 2AS – 28 DAT

XtendiMax, Engenia, and FeXapan New Regulations for 2019

Feb 1, 2019 | Written by aec22711

1) A pesticide license is required to purchase or apply these products.

2) All applicators must be trained through UGA’s Using Pesticides Wisely (UPW).

3) Can only apply through 60 days after planting cotton or 45 days after planting soybeans.

4) Can only make up to 2 POST applications in cotton and soybeans.

5) Can only apply between 1 hour after sunrise and 2 hours before sunset (wind still has to be between 3 and 10 mph).

6) Updated record keeping within 72 hours and add planting date.

7) Labels suggest to test for spray solution pH and add a buffering agent if solution pH is less than 5.

8) Do not apply when wind is blowing in direction of sensitive crops and/or residential areas.

9) If there are no sensitive crops or residential areas downwind, then downwind buffers remain. 110 ft but there is a new 57 ft omni-directional (all sides) buffer required in certain counties where endangered terrestrial dicot plants grow (visit www.epa.gov/espp/ to understand if you have endangered species near you.

10) Do not apply if expected rainfall within 24 hours of application could exceed soil field capacity.

Enlist One and Enlist Duo

1) All persons in charge of application must be trained.

Georgia Forestry Commission Announces Debris Management Program to Include Pecan Orchards

Jan 18, 2019 | Written by aec22711

By Lenny Wells: This is the best news I have heard for Georgia pecan growers since the Hurricane in October. On November 18, Governor Nathan Deal signed into law HB 1EX, which provides emergency disaster relief assistance for cleanup efforts for timberland and pecan orchard land in the 28 counties included in the Hurricane Michael Disaster Area. The cost of debris management will be shared at a rate of 80 percent FDMP and 20 percent landowner with maximum payment limitations possible. Applications will be accepted by GFC from January 14, 2019 through February 11, 2019. Landowners may apply for funds retroactively. Approved applications will be notified in writing beginning February 25, 2019.

Contact your local Georgia Forestry Commission office or click on link below for details

Forest Debris Management Program

Georgia Peanut Farm Show and Conference

Jan 7, 2019 | Written by aec22711

Georgia Peanut Farm Show and Conference set for Thursday, Jan. 17

Kelley Manufacturing Co. sponsors the Grand Door Prize

TIFTON, Ga. — Producers can improve the bottom-line of their farming operation with knowledge, connections and information gained at the 43rd annual Georgia Peanut Farm Show and Conference, held at the University of Georgia Tifton Campus Conference Center, Jan. 17, 2019, from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Peanut farmers and those involved in the peanut industry will be able to learn more about the latest products, services and peanut research at the show, which is sponsored by the Georgia Peanut Commission.

The one-day show offers farmers a full day to view the products and services of more than 100 exhibitors and a day of education. A free luncheon begins at noon for all peanut farmers in attendance. The Georgia Peanut Commission will present a short program beginning at 12:15 p.m. that will cover award presentations and an update from the National Peanut Board and Washington. The Georgia Peanut Commission, in cooperation with the OneBlood, will host a blood drive from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. during the show.

The University of Georgia Peanut Team will present an educational peanut production seminar from 9:00 until 10:30 a.m. Team members will provide information on peanut production tips and have a question and answer session with team members specializing in irrigation management, insects, disease and nematodes, weed management and economics. Farmers will also have the opportunity to earn private or commercial pesticide applicator certification.

An Industry Seed Seminar will also be held from 10:35 to 11:35 a.m. during the show. This event is sponsored by the American Peanut Shellers Association Committee on Variety & Seed Development, Southern Peanut Farmers Federation and the Georgia Peanut Commission. Growers will be able to learn about peanut varieties available for 2019 and varieties on the horizon.

During this year’s show, Kelley Manufacturing Co. is providing the Grand Door Prize Package of one season’s use of a new peanut combine (choice of four-row, six-row or combine with Unload-On-The-Go option). At the end of the 2019 season, the winner has the option of purchasing the combine from an authorized KMC dealer with $15,000 off the list price. Also, KMC is providing a second drawing for one season’s use of a new Digger Shaker Inverter (choice of rigid or flex model in a two-row, four-row or six-row) or the use of a new KMC Dump Cart. At the end of the 2019 season, the winner has the option of purchasing the digger or dump cart from an authorized KMC dealer with 10 percent off the list price.

Additionally, farmers can register to win the Grower Prize, donated by Amadas Industries. This prize includes a certificate good for the amount of $10,000.00 towards the purchase of any new Amadas self-propelled combine or $5,000 towards the purchase of a new four-row or six-row Amadas pull-type combine or $1,000 towards the purchase of a new Amadas peanut dump cart. Amadas is also offering a customized Grizzly cooler which will contain a certificate good for a parts credit of $1,000 for Amadas parts through a local authorized Amadas dealer.

The winners of the Grand Door Prize and the Grower Prize must be certified peanut farmers with an FSA farm number and present to win.

For more information on the show, contact GPC at 229-386-3470 or online at www.gapeanuts.com.

Lowndes -Echols Production meetings Schedule

Jan 7, 2019 | Written by aec22711

Vegetable Meeting	9:30 am	4-H Center Lake Park	January 17, 2019	Dr. Stanley Culpepper Dr. Bhabesh Dutta Dr. Andre Silva Dr. Stormy Sparks
Forage Meeting	6:30 pm	4-H Center Lake Park	January 17, 2019	Lisa Baxter, UGA Robby Bondurant, Westway Feed
Peanut Meeting	12:00 noon	Lowndes Extension Office-Valdosta	January 24, 2019	Dr. Mark Abney Dr Scott Monford
Cotton Meeting	6:00 pm	Lowndes Extension Office-Valdosta	January 28, 2019	Dr. Glen Harris Dr. Jared Whitaker
Row Crop Weed Control Meeting	6:00 pm	Lowndes Extension Office-Valdosta	February 28, 2019	Dr. Stanley Culpepper Dr. Eric Prostko
Row Crop Disease Meeting	12:00 noon	Lowndes Extension Office-Valdosta	March 4, 2019	Dr. Bob Kemerite

Ag Forecast meetings

Dec 11, 2018 | Written by aec22711

Published on 12/07/18

UGA CAES set to host annual Ag Forecast meetings

By Clint Thompson

Sam Pardue, dean of the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES), will serve as the keynote speaker at the upcoming Georgia Ag Forecast seminar series set for Jan. 22 through Feb. 1. The annual meetings allow UGA agricultural economists to address Georgia’s farmers, lenders and agribusiness leaders about the latest trends and economic conditions in Georgia’s No. 1 industry — agriculture.

At the seminar’s six locations across the state — Bainbridge, Carrollton, Lyons, Macon, Tifton and Watkinsville, Georgia — Pardue will discuss how CAES works with Georgia’s agricultural leaders and how the college works to help solve the issues facing rural Georgia.

“Perhaps more than ever, the Ag Forecast is needed to assist farmers, ranchers, agribusinesses and the organizations that support them to plan for the future,” Pardue said. “Uncertainty in weather, commodity prices, trade and access to markets, regulatory policy, and labor creates a challenging environment for Georgia producers. While we cannot predict the future, we can bring all the tools at our disposal to better inform our stakeholders in their decision-making processes.”

CAES hosts the Georgia Ag Forecast seminar series every year. Those interested in attending the seminars can register at georgiaagforecast.com. Economists from the UGA Center for Agribusiness and Economic Development and CAES Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics will present the economic outlook for Georgia’s producers with an emphasis on Georgia’s major commodities.

“Ag Forecast provides producers, bankers and agribusiness leaders with a glimpse of what will happen in 2019. It presents data on how conditions in Georgia, the United States and the globe will impact producers here in Georgia,” said Kent Wolfe, director of the UGA Center for Agribusiness and Economic Development.

Participants will have the opportunity to meet with UGA faculty and UGA Cooperative Extension agents and will leave the meeting with a copy of the 2019 Georgia Ag Forecast book. It provides detailed outlooks of the major commodities produced in Georgia from scientists who work on the crop year-round.

One topic that’s expected to be on the forefront is how Hurricane Michael will impact the future of Georgia agriculture. The storm devastated south Georgia agriculture on Oct. 10, 2018, causing more than $2.5 billion in crop losses. Since the hurricane moved through Georgia during harvest season, multiple crops were at extreme risk for damage.

“The impact from Hurricane Michael will undoubtedly be a hot topic because it impacted a number of commodities in the state with potential global implications,” Wolfe said.

Georgia’s cotton crop sustained between $550 and $600 million in losses, classified as immediate damage to commodities grown by Georgia producers. Pecans suffered $100 million in losses to its crop along with $260 million in losses to trees and $200 million in losses to future income. Other crop damages include $763 million in losses to timber, $20 million in losses to poultry houses, and $480 million in losses to vegetables.

The 2019 Georgia Ag Forecast series will be held:

Tuesday, Jan. 22: Macon, Georgia — Georgia Farm Bureau Building
Wednesday, Jan. 23: Carrollton, Georgia — Carroll County Ag Center
Friday, Jan. 25: Watkinsville, Georgia — Oconee County Civic Center
Tuesday, Jan. 29: Lyons, Georgia — Toombs County Agri-Center
Thursday, Jan. 31: Bainbridge, Georgia — Decatur County Agricultural Center
Friday, Feb. 1: Tifton, Georgia — Tifton Campus Conference Center

The Tifton seminar will begin at 7:30 a.m. with a breakfast buffet. All of the other seminars will begin at 10 a.m. and will be followed by a networking lunch.

The Georgia Ag Forecast seminar series is presented by UGA CAES and the Georgia Department of Agriculture. For more information on the 2019 Georgia Ag Forecast series, visit georgiaagforecast.com or search for #gaagforecast on social media.

Take Care of Your Christmas Tree

Dec 6, 2018 | Written by aec22711

Doug Collins, Lee County Extension Coordinator

It’s that time of year again. People are putting up Christmas trees. Whether yours stays fresh until after Christmas, or turns into a needle-shedding fire hazard is up to you.

A cut Christmas tree is a living thing, or at least it was when it was cut. As such, it is perishable.

The first step in making a tree last until after Christmas is to select one that is in good shape. If you are buying a precut tree, gently grasp a branch on your prospective tree and pull your hand over the branch. If needles come off in your hand, don’t take that tree home.

After purchasing the tree and before bringing it inside the house, bump the bottom of the trunk against a hard surface to knock loose needles off of the tree. Then cut an inch off of the bottom of the trunk. You see, after the tree has been cut for a while without being placed in water, a seal forms as the cut. This seal will prevent your tree from taking up adequate amounts of water.

Place the tree in a stand with a water reservoir. Check the water level hourly during the first day to make sure your tree has adequate water. The first several hours after being put into water, your tree will be very thirsty and take up a lot of water. If the water level falls below the cut, a seal will form as previously described and the trunk will need to be cut again.

Make sure all electrical equipment to be put on the tree is in good condition and that there is no worn or broken insulation on the lights. Disconnect lights before going to bed. Keep the house temperature as low as is comfortable. Heat can dry out a tree. Don’t allow pets or small children to climb or pull on the tree. If small children are present, make sure that no dangerous ornaments are placed on the tree within their reach.

Keep the tree away from heat sources and open flames. If the tree becomes dry and needles fall excessively, replace the tree with a new one. As was done when the tree was purchased, gently grasp a branch on the tree and pull your hand over the branch. If the needles come off in your hand, it is time for a new tree. Have a safe and merry Christmas!