Agriculture & Natural Resources

Welcome to Burke County!

From cotton, corn and peanuts to pines, locally grown vegetables and livestock, Burke County has an impressive amount of agriculture. Burke County has the largest acreage in farmland and is diverse in all areas of production. Production agriculture continues to fuel the economy of Burke County with an overall farm gate value of $150,991,173, ranking 15^th in the state! Agriculture impacts the economy of the county to the tune of more than $2 million in total output and represents more than 1,469 jobs. Annually, farmers grow around 80,000 acres of row crops. Many areas of food and fiber production are represented in Burke County.

From Our Blog

AMVAC – During Corn Planting Time Posted by Courtney Scott on Mar 21, 2023 Dr. Eric Prostko included an information sheet from AMVAC in his weed science blog (https://ugaweedscience.blogspot.com/). During corn planting time, it’s a good reminder for us that Counter 20G and other organophosphate insecticides used in furrow have the potential to cause negative crop reactions with certain herbicides. Take a look at the...
Convservation Reserve Program Posted by Courtney Scott on Mar 20, 2023 Conservation Reserve Program Workshop to be held in Bainbridge, GA on March 22nd from 8:30-3:30. The meeting will be held at Cloud Livestock Facility in Bainbridge and is explicitly organized for female landowner target audiences across the tri-state region of GA, FL, and AL, “Woman Landowner Workshops – Land &...
Checking Planter Depth Settings Posted by Courtney Scott on Mar 13, 2023 Corn planters are starting to roll in south Georgia and among all the planter issues every year, one of the most common is seed depth variations. Check out the information in the blog post on utilizing block test method to check planter depth settings before getting out in the field.
Cotton Marketing News Posted by Courtney Scott on Feb 14, 2023 February 10, 2023
Row Crop Weed Control Meeting Posted by Courtney Scott on Feb 13, 2023 February 27, 2023 8:30 AM

2021 Pre-Recorded Production Meetings

Cotton Meetings

Peanut Meetings

Georgia Private Pesticide Applicator Exam

How do I obtain a Private Pesticide Applicator License?

Step 1: Purchase course access for the interactive Private Applicator training program through the Georgia Professional Certifications storefront. The cost is $25.00.

Step 2: Complete the new Private Applicator Training Course on Georgia Professional Certifications website. Use the username and temporary password sent to you by Dr. Mickey Taylor. Follow instructions carefully.

You must pass the final test of each module with a 70 or higher.

Step 3: Print Certificate of Completion once you have completed the course and take to your county Extension Office.

Before you take the exam, please ensure that you have access to a working printer.

Step 4: Certify that you are engaged in production by completing the Private Pesticide Applicator License Application and complete the Verification of Lawful Presence.

Step 5: The Georgia Department of Ag Pesticides office will review your application and, when approved, send it to the Licensing Division, who will print and issue your license.

We will assist you in your application submission.

Below are some of UGA Extension's most broadly useful resources for those involved in agriculture on the farm, in schools, and around the home.

Production Agriculture:

Statewide Variety Testing Which varieties should you plant? The variety testing team does the work and research for farmers.

UGA Weather Network Reliable weather information for agricultural and environmental applications, including soil temperature, rainfall, wind speed, and more.

Pesticide Safety Education Everything you need to achieve certification and maintain the knowledge to safely and effectively make use of restricted-use and all other types of pesticides.

Commodity Resources

Sustainable Agriculture A collection of resources for those interested in production and marketing practices that are profitable, environmentally sound, and that improve the quality of life for farmers, farm workers, and the community.

Ag Budgets and Economics Resources for production economics, farm management, marketing, situation and outlook, risk management, financial management, farm policy, labor, and taxation.

Farmgate Value Report Annual county-level reports documenting the value of all food and fiber commodities grown in the state.

Search for UGA Extension Publications

Home & Garden:

Soil Testing Ensure that your soil is productive! Get your soil tested to determine the amount and kind of nutrients that should be added for the best growth.

Pest Management Recommendations for pest control around homes, on pets, in the home garden, and more.

Household Water Quality Water quality has an immediate and a prolonged effect on the health of your household. This publication series contains basic information about home water quality and treatment.

Home Garden Publication Series Topics include garden planning, soil preparation, weed control, pollination, disease and insect control, harvesting, and preserving.

Georgia Green Industry Professional Development The UGA Center for Urban Agriculture offers professional training and certifications for the Georgia Certified Landscape Professional, Georgia Certified Plant Professional exam and Super Crew employee training series.

Georgia Green Landscape Stewards The Georgia Green Landscape Stewards program provides fact-based information to help businesses and residences in Georgia implement sustainable green practices in their landscape.

Schools:

Community and School Gardens This Community and School Gardens blog is designed to help community and school gardeners succeed by connecting them to UGA Extension and other research-based resources.

Lesson Plans and Teacher Resources Whether you'd like to help protect the environment, teach your students how to avoid chronic diseases with healthy food and physical activity, or train food handlers in your cafeteria, University of Georgia Extension can help.