Recent Posts
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Recent concerns have been buzzing around vinegar used for canning. Specifically the acidity level. The main concern is the use of 4% acidic vinegar when canning products. The use of vinegar with acidity levels lower than 5% is strongly advised against, as it may not be sufficiently strong enough to ensure the safety of the…
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We are so happy to have Travis Tankersley, a lifetime native of Madison County, as our new ANR Agent. Travis has a BS in Animal Science and is no stranger to the livestock exhibiting industry because he grew up showing swine, dairy cattle, and goats. He looks forward to serving in a community where he…
Posted in: General -
Not all chocolates are created equal (nutritionally that is). Milk chocolate, white chocolate, sweet chocolate, and semi-sweet chocolates all have some nutritional benefits, but dark chocolate is loaded with nutrients that can positively affect your health. Let’s take a savory look into the benefits of dark chocolate. Dark chocolate is made from the seeds the…
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Many people believe that soil and dirt are the same thing, but they’re not! Dirt is what you get under your fingernails, while soil is the then layer of living skin that covers the land. Soil is so much more than dirt. It’s alive! Soil is a living ecosystem—a large community of living organisms linked…
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Being a rural community there are numerous homes that are serviced by private water supplies in Madison County. Although the water coming from the tap may appear clear and taste good, do you know that its really safe? Water may contain dissolved minerals, organic compounds or even live organisms at harmful concentrations. Contaminated water used…
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Our office receives many calls from home and land owners frustrated with unwanted animals troubling their homes or yards. Some wildlife may be cute but they can cause significant damage and headaches for homeowners. Whether they’re rooting through your trash, tearing up your garden, or presenting a disease threat to your pets and families, nuisance…
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Harvesting fresh fruit from your home orchard can be a delicious way to add beauty, taste, and variety to your landscape and diet. The best time to plant fruit trees in Georgia is in the fall. “Growing fresh fruit can be rewarding and fun but can also provide its share of frustration,” said Bob Westerfield,…
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Fire ants are the most common insect pest of home lawns. Fire ant control is a never-ending battle in the South, but there are steps you can take to keep your lawn and landscape relatively free of these troublesome pests. The easiest, cheapest, most effective thing you can do to control fire ants is to…
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I have been with UGA Extension for 15 years and in that time, I have had the opportunity to travel and visit with cattlemen from around the state and country. Large or small, the successful producers all have a few things in common, but probably not the things you are thinking of. Certainly, inherited land,…
