Agriculture
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Do you really need to bag and haul away your grass clippings—or could they actually be the key to a greener lawn? The University of Georgia Cooperative Extension is encouraging homeowners to consider grasscycling as a sustainable alternative to bagging lawn clippings. Grasscycling is the practice of leaving clippings on the lawn after mowing, allowing…
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Georgia pond owners are grappling with an increasing presence of two invasive aquatic plants—Duckweed (Lemna spp.) and Watermeal (Wolffia spp.)—that are threatening the health of freshwater ecosystems across the state. These tiny, free-floating plants reproduce quickly and can blanket pond surfaces within days, leading to severe consequences such as oxygen depletion, fish kills, and ecosystem…
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Now that spring has sprung and we’ve enjoyed our early bloomers, it’s time to take care of a few maintenance tasks in the garden. Shrubs like forsythia, early azaleas, and dogwood all bloom early in the spring. It’s time to prune them after they bloom and before they set buds for next year. A few…
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The brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB), Halyomorpha halys, is an invasive pest that has become a significant issue for both agriculture and landscaping in the United States. Native to Asia, it was introduced in the mid-1990s and spread rapidly, largely due to its unique overwintering behavior. The BMSB seeks dark, dry areas like vehicles and…
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Deciduous fruit trees, bushes, and vines in the home garden need ongoing care, and one of the most crucial yet often overlooked tasks is pruning. Proper pruning and training help shape the plant, improve fruit quality, enhance its longevity, and reduce the risk of disease and damage. It is a practice that supports the plant’s…
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The Madison County Extension Office if hosting a program that focuses on basic information needed when raising Goats/Sheep. Mark your calendar for September 30, 2024 and join us at 5:30pm at the Culinary Arts Room (Madison County High School). RSVP no later than September 26th by calling 706-795-2281 or sending an email to uge1191@uga.edu. Please…
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The senior team from Madison County won first place in the Georgia 4-H State Livestock Judging contest on March 16 at the Georgia FFA-FCCLA Center in Covington. Team members Matthew Highfill, Mallory Lee, Maggie Moon, and Emily Wall. They will represent Georgia at the National 4-H Livestock Judging Contest in Louisville, Kentucky this fall. In the…
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Everyone knows that the classic gift for Valentine’s Day is chocolates and roses. I know that it is a crowd pleaser and just about everyone will appreciate getting that gift, but there is another option. Instead of buying a dozen roses that will last a short while, buy a rose bush that will keep giving…
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Fall is finally here and it is almost time to start planting new trees and fruit producing bushes. If you want to be successful and give your new plants the best opportunity to grow and thrive, then you have to start at the ground and work your way up. You literally have to start with…
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The Georgia Department of Agriculture (GDA), in coordination with the USDA and the University of Georgia, announced the confirmation of the non-native Yellow-Legged Hornet (Vespa velutina) in Savannah, Georgia on the 9th of August. This is the first confirmed sighting of this hornet in Georgia. The Yellow-Legged Hornet is originally from Southeast Asia and can…