Gary Hawkins

  • Dry Conditions for Georgia

    As drought conditions continue to increase in the SE, finding ways to save water can be beneficial.  In this post, I provide a very short list of things that can be done.

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  • Mitchell County 4H2O camp

    Mitchell County 4H2O camp information.  For information call Jennifer Grogan or the Mitchell County Extension Office at 229-336-2066.  

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  • Happy Earth Day!!!

    On April 22, 1970, millions of Americans participated in the first Earth Day.  As the UGA Water Committee continues it work, we are focused on the water aspect of Earth Day, but realize that what happens on the soil has a direct impact on the water resources.   Likewise, what we do on the land…

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  • Optimizing Water Usage

    In the April issue of Water Efficiency magazine, the front page article is on Irrigation Efficiency.  The article discusses how using soil moisture sensors helps farmers in California better manage water resources.  Also, the reduction in over watering conserves nutrients from leaching out of the root zone.  One of the things we have been promoting…

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  • Fun Fact(s) of the Week

    This week I want to take a look at the amount of pipe it takes in the US to get us fresh clean water.   According to the US EPA, there are approximately 1 million miles of pipeline or aqueducts in the US and Canada.  That is enough to circle the earth 40 times.  …

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  • Green Infrastructure usage

    In one of the recent Forester Daily News newsletters, Janice Kaspersen writes how Washington, DC is has a problem with stormwater runoff and they are looking to use green infrastructure to help control the increased flow of stormwater into a combined sewer system.  The article can be found in the newsletter under Market for GI.…

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  • Will your Lettuce take the Heat?

    In California, Dr. David Still is working to breed lettuce that will use less nitrogen and water.  He is trying to isolate the genes that leads to lettuce “bolting” when it gets hotter.  To read more about how he is working with lettuce in hot climates see the story in the Western Farm Press under…

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  • Water is considered to be a renewable resource that we do not have to really worry about.  This is mainly due to the Water Cycle where water is always in motion.  However, as we have experienced droughts over the years and increased impervious surfaces, stormwater has increased and the storage of these water resources has…

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  • Cover Crops seem to be making a Come Back

    The use of cover crops in agriculture is the base in conservation tillage or conservation production systems.  The use of cover crops has many different benefits ranging from aiding in increased infiltration, suppressing weeds, building soil health and reducing erosion.  In the “Weekly Roundup” of the Forester Newsletter there was an article dealing with cover crops…

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  • Cleaning Camden County

    Camden County has an Award Winning Program which is helping keep Coastal Georgia Clean.

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