Category Archives: Uncategorized

USDA to Host In-Person Workshop in Georgia to Focus on Livestock Risk Management Products

VALDOSTA, Ga., Dec.1, 2023 — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is hosting a series of in-person and virtual workshops for producers to learn about new and expanded livestock risk management products. The “Livestock Roadshow,” will highlight policy improvements based on feedback from America’s livestock producers, part of the agency’s broader outreach and education efforts. The next event will be held in-person on December 19, 2023, from 12 to 2 pm at the Grady County AGRI-Center in Cairo, Georgia.
“This is a great chance for us to meet with the producers, highlight the many livestock resources we have available, and discuss them directly in-person with the producers” said Davina Lee, Director of the RMA Valdosta Regional Office. “There are so many risk management opportunities for livestock producers, some new, some updated and improved―and we want to take every chance we can to keep the producers up to date so that they can make the best-informed decisions they can to manage their operation and its specific risks. This in-person workshop lets us do just that.”
Improvements to livestock insurance options have led to tremendous growth. For example, Livestock Risk Protection grew by 250% in two years, with about 27 million head of cattle insured in 2023. Meanwhile, Livestock Gross Margin grew by 600% in two years, with about 14.5 million head of cattle insured in 2023.
At this and other Livestock Roadshow events, producers can expect to learn more about: Dairy Revenue Protection, available nationwide Livestock Gross Margin, available nationwide Livestock Risk Protection, available nationwide Pasture, Rangeland, and Forage, available nationwide.
In addition to this event on December 19 at the Grady County AGRI-Center, throughout the coming months there will be more than a dozen Livestock Roadshow workshops held in-person in each of RMA’s 10 regions, as well as several virtual workshops that will be available to everyone across the country. A full listing of upcoming roadshow events and information on how to participate is available on the Livestock Roadshow webpage. Additionally, all producers can subscribe for email messages from RMA.
The Livestock Roadshow builds on other recent outreach and education efforts. In 2023, RMA held roadshow events highlighting insurance coverage for specialty crop, organic, and urban producers. In total, more than 3,000 producers and Approved Insurance Providers attended these events. Additionally, since 2021, RMA has invested nearly $13 million in partnerships to advance risk management education. Learn more on the Outreach and Education webpage.
More Information Crop insurance is sold and delivered solely through private crop insurance agents. A list of crop insurance agents is available at all USDA Service Centers and online at the RMA Agent Locator. Learn more about crop insurance and the modern farm safety net at rma.usda.gov or by contacting your RMA Regional Office. USDA touches the lives of all Americans each day in so many positive ways. Under the Biden-Harris administration, USDA is transforming America’s food system with a greater focus on more resilient local and regional food production, fairer markets for all producers, ensuring access to safe, healthy and nutritious food in all communities, building new markets and streams of income for farmers and producers using climate smart food and forestry practices, making historic investments
in infrastructure and clean energy capabilities in rural America, and committing to equity across the Department by removing systemic barriers and building a workforce more representative of America. To learn more, visit usda.gov.

Leave a comment

Filed under Livestock, Uncategorized

Thomas County Forestry Update

Join us at the Thomas County Public Library at 11:30 AM on Tuesday, October 31st for a forest industry update.  We will discuss herbicide modes of action, pine species selection, and a hunting season update from Dr. Clabo and one of Georgia DNR’s Law Enforcement Officers. Lunch will be provided and is sponsored by The Wright Group. Credit hours will be offered for Pesticide License, Continuing Forestry Education (CFE), and Continuing Logger Education (CLE).  Please register (229.225.4130) by Thursday, October 26th to be counted for the sponsored meal.

Leave a comment

Filed under Uncategorized

Peanut Maturity Sampling Procedure

Happy Labor Day! It’s that time of year again. To make sure that you have a representative sample get plants from at least 3 spots in the field. Then remove 180-200 pods from the plants. Don’t just pick off the larger pods, pick off small pods as well. If we pick off large pods, it can bias the sample toward digging early. There is enough data to show that we lose as much as yield if we dig a week early than a week late. If we dig a week late, there is no difference. We don’t see difference again until we dig 2 weeks too late. We still have to consider the condition of the vines so please take note of their condition as you pull off pods.

Leave a comment

Filed under Uncategorized

Georgia Citrus Nutrition Survey

Researchers in the UGA Agricultural and Environmental Services Labs are conducting a three-year evaluation of nutrient status of Georgia Citrus trees. This study seeks to identify any common nutrient issues throughout the emerging citrus industry in Georgia, and provide educational materials based on the survey results. Funding for this survey was provided by the Georgia Department of Agriculture, Specialty Crop Block Grant Program. During August 2023, citrus growers in Georgia can submit up to 10 foliar samples to the UGA Agricultural and Environmental Services Labs for analysis at no charge. Contact your local UGA Extension Office for a copy of the citrus nutrition survey sample submission form.

-Each sample should represent a single variety, rootstock, and planting age combination.
-Samples should cover no more than 20 acres.
-Select trees that represent the average health status of the grove, avoiding diseased or damaged trees.
-Collect 5-10 leaves per tree from a total of 15-20 trees throughout the grove (about 100 total leaves).
-Select leaves that are 4-6 months old and fully expanded.
-Store collected leaves in a labeled paper bag (not plastic).
-Ship the samples to: UGA Soil, Plant, and Water Lab 2400 College Station Rd. Athens, GA 30602-9105
-Growers are responsible for shipping cost.
-All samples will be analyzed for Basic Plant Test (P1): N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S, Zn, Fe, B, Al, Cu and Mn
-Results will be emailed within 5-7 business days upon receipt at the lab.

Leave a comment

Filed under Uncategorized

Pesticide Clean Day Event

When: March 29, 2023 8AM – 3PM

Where: Tri County Gin – 561 Sinkhole Road, Douglas, GA 31535

Georgia Dept. of Agriculture Clean Day is a program that gives everyone an opportunity to discard old, unusable, or cancelled pesticides to a hazardous waste contractor for disposal. Pesticides in leaking containers or disposed of improperly may cause environmental damage by contaminating water supplies or harming people and wildlife. Some pesticides that have been used in the past are now in need of proper disposal. Participation in the Clean Day Program remains free of charge to all private and commercial applicators with the understanding that the event is designed / intended for farmers, lawn care, golf courses, and pest control companies. The Georgia Department of Agriculture we will be requiring pre-registration for the events. For more information about the event please contact your local extension agent, visit our website: https://agr.georgia.gov/georgia-clean-day or contact Rick Hayes coordinator for the event at ricky.hayes@agr.georgia.gov (Office: 404-656-4958) (Cell: 404-535-1614) or Ashley Smith, Coffee County CEA at (912)850-4059.

All canceled, suspended, unusable and unlabeled materials classified as pesticides may be turned in for collection. Please refer to the brief list below to determine what types of materials will or will not be accepted at the event. Please list all pesticides to be turned in on the pre-registration form in order to estimate types and volumes to be collected. Any pesticides without a brand name, trade name, or active ingredient on the label may require analysis to determine the contents. Please label all unidentifiable pesticides as “unknown” on the pre-registration form.

· PRE-REGISTRATION IS MANDATORY FOR PROGRAM PARTICIPATION. Visit our website for pre-registration forms. https://agr.georgia.gov/pesticide-waste-disposal-container-recycling
· ALL PESTICIDES BROUGHT TO THE COLLECTION SITE MUST BE LISTED ON THE PRE-REGISTRATION FORM.
· ITEMS NOT REGISTERED WILL BE REFUSED AT THE COLLECTION SITE.
· EMPTY CONTAINERS OR RINSATES WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.
· NO COMPRESSED GASES CAN BE ACCEPTED. (METHYL BROMIDE, CHLORPICRIN, VIKANE, ETC.).

Leave a comment

Filed under Uncategorized

Using Pesticides Wisely

Using Pesticides Wisely – Georgia 2023.

  1. As mandated by federal labels, one must hold a private or commercial pesticide applicator license to purchase and use the restricted use herbicides Engenia, XtendiMax, and Tavium. Use is limited to ONLY those persons holding a private or commercial applicator certification. It is no longer permissible for noncertified applicators to apply these products under the direct supervision of the certified applicator.
  2. Prior to applying these products in 2023, ALL applicators must be trained according to the federal labels. In Georgia, applicators must complete the 2023 UPW classroom training with locations provided below. Individual and/or on-line trainings WILL NOT be available for 2023.
  3. Those needing pesticide credit but not applying Engneia, XtendiMax, or Tavium are welcome to attend.
  4. Bring your pesticide license; 2 hours of pesticide credit for private or commercial will be offered.
  5. The meeting will last about 1.5 hours; NO beverages or meals will be provided.
  6. Attendee’s names will be placed on a list posted to the Georgia Department of Agriculture’s auxin website at https://agr.georgia.gov/dicamba; this link is different than in previous years!

Leave a comment

Filed under Uncategorized

Thomas County Production Updates

Leave a comment

January 23, 2023 · 3:21 PM

Cattle and Citrus Management During Extreme Cold

For cattle:

Here are a few tips to help cattle through this stretch, especially for those that have started the calving season.

Windbreak:  This may be the biggest factor to help cattle get through the extreme wind chill we will see on Friday.  Cattle will often seek out relief from wind more so than food or water.  This can be stands of trees, stacks of round bales, or man-made structures.  Placing this close to location of feeding will help ensure they find the windbreak, as well as consume the proper amount of calories.

Bedding:  Keeping cattle dry is second most important factor for cattle.  After the large amount of rain many have received since Thanksgiving, most are dealing with mud.  Move cattle to a dry pasture for the next several days.

Nutrition:  Cattle need more calories to maintain their body heat in extreme cold; up to 30% more.  Starting at least 1-2 days prior to the expected weather, plan on offering higher quality hay or feeding 4-6 pounds of supplement.  If cattle are not already receiving corn, do not start feeding straight corn. I would recommend that the supplement be greater than 70% TDN and 15% CP.   A few simple options:

  • Whole cottonseed
  • Dried distillers grains
  • Corn gluten feed
  • 50:50  of corn gluten feed and soybean hulls
  • 33:33:33 of corn gluten feed, corn,  and soybean hulls
  • Commercial feed

Water:  Most waterers will freeze in this weather.  In parts of north Georgia, it will remain below freezing for more than 48 hours.  Be sure to check water sources to be sure cattle have access.

For citrus:

The upcoming freeze events will be one of the biggest challenges faced so far by Georgia and northern Florida citrus growers.  In past years we have experienced one or two nights of temperatures in the lower 20’s or possibly upper teens in some areas.  For the most part citrus trees have survived.  One thing different about this event will the number or hours below freezing with highs on Saturday and Sunday in the mid 30’s.  Our trees have not experienced that duration below freezing and they have not experience 4 nights in a row down to 20 degrees. One good thing is that trees should be more acclimated to cold temperatures since they have we have had cold temperatures leading up until now.  There are many factors I have listed below that influence cold-hardiness. 

  • Type of citrus tree 
  • Freezing temperature reached
  • Duration of the minimal temperature
  • How well the plant became hardened or conditioned before freezing temperatures occurred (the tissue freezing point of a hardened citrus plant may be five to six degrees lower than an unhardened plant)
  • Wet or Dry Plant (killing temperature is two to four degrees lower for a dry citrus tree so dry trees can withstand lower temperature)
  • Wet soil holds more heat so wetting the ground before the freezing event is recommended
  • Age of the plant (a young plant cannot withstand as much cold as a more mature tree).
  • Rootstock selection.  Some rootstocks like trifoliate and trifoliate hybrids go dormant quicker than non trifoliates
  • Trees that still have fruit on them are more susceptible to freezes
  • Amount of N in tree (don’t fertilize with too much N especially after August)
  • Poorly managed and stressed trees due to insects, disease, or nutrient deficiencies are more vulnerable to freezes
  • Planting location.  High ground on a south facing slope is best
  • Trees without windbreaks are more likely to experience freeze damage

Leave a comment

Filed under Uncategorized

Citrus Update

Call 12293335185 to register for Thursday’s meeting.

Leave a comment

Filed under Uncategorized

FINAL UPW TRAINING TOMORROW

Using Pesticides Wisely Trainings


All applicators who are planning to apply Engenia, Tavium, and Xtendimax must attend UPW Trainings this year prior to April 15, 2022. However, those that attended a UGA Extension Weed Management Update in 2022, signed in, and received credit do not have to attend UPW Training. Weed Management Updates were held in the following counties between January 10th and February 17th: Pierce, Wayne, Emanuel, Jefferson, Burke, Cotton Commission Annual Meeting – Weed Training section, Lee, Macon/Taylor/Peach/Houston, Calhoun, Mitchell/Baker, Grady, Tift, Colquitt, Irwin/Ben Hill, Worth, Berrien, Screven, Bulloch, Terrell, Webster, Sumter, Dooly, Pulaski/Wilcox, Appling, and Tattnall/Evans/Chandler. All applicators of Engenia, Tavium, & XtendiMax herbicides must also have a private pesticide license. There will not be an extension or issuance of the special applicators license training that has been offered in the past, so all applicators must obtain their private pesticide license.

UPW trainings will be held at the Thomas County Extension Office at 9:30AM on the following dates:

Wednesday, March 16

Wednesday, March 23

Wednesday, March 30

Wednesday, April 6

Wednesday, April 13

Multiple dates have been available for our grower’s convenience and due to the size limitations of our meeting space. To register or if you have any questions please call UGA Extension Thomas County.

For information on how to apply for a Private Pesticide Applicators License please visit: https://extension.uga.edu/content/dam/extension/programs-and-services/pesticide-safety-education/documents/Step-by-Step_PAT_Course_Ordering_Instructions_Aug%2020.pdf

Leave a comment

Filed under Uncategorized