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Summary

The urban agriculture industry in Georgia has become the second largest agriculture industry in Georgia. Urban agriculture is an $8.12 billion industry, with over 7,000 companies and 80,000 employees. Because of rapid growth in the urban agriculture industry a need was recognized in that there is a lack of knowledge among the green industry in basic management practices in the landscape. The University of Georgia Cooperative Extension worked with Georgia Green Industry Association and Georgia Urban Agriculture Council to offer more training opportunities for landscape professionals.Since the inception of Rome'n the Green in 2006 there has been total of 343 individual attend. Combined survey results indicated that 100 percent of attendees thought the program was helpful and would attend future programs. 84 percent said they would implement some form of best management or integrated pest management principles through out their landscape business. Debbie Ruland, Vice President of Watters and Associates Landscape Company had this to say about Rome'n the Green: “We truly need seminars of this caliber in Rome, GA. We have so many professional companies and local garden centers that can benefit fro these types of seminars. I want to encourage more educational programs to be presented by GGIA, CVTA and UGA Extension Center for Urban Agriculture. This seminar was very educational.”

Situation

The urban agriculture industry in Georgia has become the second largest agriculture industry in Georgia. Urban agriculture is an $8.12 billion industry, with over 7,000 companies and 80,000 employees. Urban agriculture has passed peaches, cattle and swine in farm-gate value. Urban agriculture is a rapidly growing industry in volume and types of services. Because of this rapid growth in the urban agriculture industry a need was recognized in that there is a lack of knowledge among the green industry in basic management practices in the landscape. There is a critical need for more education in the areas of proper identification of diseases and insects along with control methods, proper use and management of fertilizer on turfgrass and in home landscapes, basic plant culture and care i.e.” putting the right plant in the right place” to reduced foreseen problems and proper landscape irrigation. As the green industry continues to grow there is also a need for improved professionalism and certification of employees by stressing the importance of joining green industry association and obtaining professional certification in programs such as Georgia Certified Landscape (GCLIP)and/or Plant Professional (GCPP)

Response

The University of Georgia Cooperative Extension worked with other agencies such as Georgia Green Industry Association and Georgia Urban Agriculture Council to offer more training opportunities for landscape professionals. In 2006 The University of Georgia Cooperative Extension and the Georgia Green Industry Association created Winterschool on the Road in locations across Georgia. Floyd County has been a host since 2006. Rome'n the Green continues to be the largest green industry program in Northwest Georgia. In 2008, Rome'n the Green” was held in February at Coosa Valley Technical College in Rome, Georgia. Two educational tracts where available for participants to choose from: Turf and Landscape along with and an outdoor sprayer calibration workshop held outdoors.

Impact

Since the inception of Rome'n the Green in 2006 there has been total of 343 individual attend. Combined survey results indicated that 100 percent of attendees thought the program was helpful and would attend future programs. 84 percent said they would implement some form of best management or integrated pest management principles through out their landscape business. Debbie Ruland, Vice President of Watters and Associates Landscape Company had this to say about Rome'n the Green: “We truly need seminars of this caliber in Rome, GA. We have so many professional companies and local garden centers that can benefit fro these types of seminars. I want to encourage more educational programs to be presented by GGIA, CVTA and UGA Extension Center for Urban Agriculture. This seminar was very educational.” Based upon estimates from the UGA Center for Agribusiness and Economic Development, each hour of pesticide credit given has a value economic value of $6,427.00 per business represented. There has been approximately 115 business represented and a total of 16 pesticide credit hours given since the inception of Rome'n the Green. Rome'n the Green has had an economical impact value of $11,825,680.00 for area businesses.

State Issue

Conservation & Management of Natural Resources

Details

  • Year: 2008
  • Geographic Scope: Multi-County
  • County: Floyd
  • Program Areas:
    • Agriculture & Natural Resources

Author

  • Mickler, Keith Daniel

Collaborator(s)

CAES Collaborator(s)

  • Chance, Willie O.
  • Hurt, Ransom Todd

Non-CAES Collaborator(s)

  • Shannen Ferry, Coosa Valley Technical College
  • Sherry Loudermilk, Georgia Green Industry Association
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