Our Impact
Making A Difference in Our County
University of Georgia Cooperative Extension is working hard for its constituents. The following are examples of Extension’s impact in the county over the past year.
4-H Youth Development
Summary
Science and STEM education are crucial for future job opportunities, especially in Georgia, where STEM supports a large portion of jobs and economic output. Georgia 4-H offers programs that include in-school programming for 5th graders, focusing on science content based on state standards. Since 2015, over 2,400 Berrien County 5th grade students participated in 440 science lessons, leading to average Milestone Science scores higher than RESA and state averages. A recent survey of teachers showed unanimous support for 4-H programming, highlighting its importance in reinforcing educational standards and preparing students for testing. Berrien County 4-H plans to continue and expand its science-based lessons.
Situation
Science and STEM education is important for the future as careers in science and STEM fields continue to grow rapidly. Students need to be exposed to science more now than was considered in the past. Without stimulating STEM education that engages students, youth will not be equipped to take advantage of future career and economic opportunities. STEM has an impact on the state of Georgia. A 2021 economic impact report (STEM and the American Workforce) found that STEM supports 61 percent of jobs, 71 percent of economic output, and 66 percent of the state’s gross domestic product (GDP).
Response
Georgia 4-H has four core programs: Project Achievement, Summer Camp, State Council and In School Programming. In Berrien County, 4-H partners with the public school system to offer in school programming. The in-school programming focuses in 5th grade on the area of science education and is based upon the Georgia Department of Education’s science content standards. In school science lessons are taught on a variety of topics including microorganisms, scientific classification procedures, animal and plant cell comparisons, Earth’s constructive/destructive processes, and more. Lessons engage students in investigations of scientific concepts.
Georgia’s 5th grade students since 2015 are required to take an End of Grade assessment over science standards as part of the Milestones Assessment System. Georgia Milestones is designed to provide students with information about their achievement and their readiness for their next level of learning – be it the next grade, the next course, or postsecondary endeavor.
Impact
Since 2015 over 2400 5th grade students from Berrien County have taken part in 440 Georgia science standard based in school lessons. Over that timespan the Berrien County 5th grade Milestone Science End of Grade scores have been on average higher (Proficient and above:51.637) than both the state average (40.017) and the average for the RESA-Regional Educational Service Agency: Coastal Plain (36.235).
In 2025, an evaluation survey was distributed to all Berrien County 4-H host teachers to provide feedback on the content and quality of science activities during 4-H club meetings. 100% of respondents indicated that “4-H programming is an important supplement to the education that is provided to my students”. 100% of respondents also specified that “information the 4-H leader taught my students reinforced Georgia’s educational standards”. With 80% of teachers responding that “the information the 4-H leader taught my students helped me as a teacher prepare my students for success on Georgia’s testing requirements.”
AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES
Summary
Fusarium wilt is an extremely problematic disease in Berrien County watermelons. Several grafted rootstocks were evaluated in 2023 and 2024 for Fusarium wilt resistance, finding two of the tested rootstocks to have high resistance to the disease.
Situation
Berrien County is one of the largest watermelon producing counties in Georgia, on average growing roughly 800 acres annually with an economic value estimated at over $8 million. Fusarium wilt is a soil borne vascular disease caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. Niveum, or FON and production loss from Fusarium wilt can total 100% in severe cases. This disease is notoriously devastating in many fields in the watermelon growing region of Berrien County.
Response
In 2023 and 2024, the Berrien County Ag Agent worked with a local watermelon grower in evaluating Carolina Strongback grafted watermelons for their tolerance to Fusarium wilt in Berrien County watermelons. Additionally, 3 experimental citron rootstocks (ORSWRS1, ORSWRS2b, and Cassius) and an experimental squash (MM30) rootstock were evaluated. Grafted plants were compared to their non-grafted counterparts (cv. Crackerjack). Watermelon plants were evaluated in fields with a known history or problem with Fusarium wilt by taking weekly disease ratings and yield at seasons end.
Impact
Trial data revealed that the Carolina Strongback rootstock is suitable for the high Fusarium wilt pressure watermelon fields of Berrien County. It also shows that the squash MM30 rootstock performed similarly and has potential for use in the future. However, none of the other citron based rootstocks appear to be tolerant enough to Fusarium wilt for these fields. Regarding yield, Carolina Strongback averaged an increase of 214 pounds per plot over the two years compared to non-grafted plants, while the squash MM30 averaged 203. Per acre this results in an average increase in yield of approximately 29,114 and 23,966 for these two rootstocks compared to non-grafted plants. At a $0.20 per pound price point this yield increase adds $5,822 and $4,793 and acre. Using these numbers, a 100-acre watermelon farm with high Fusarium pressure could potentially gain over $500,000 when using grafted watermelon technology. This data has gone on to support grower decisions to utilize grafted plants in Berrien County watermelons.