UGA Extension agents, staff and trained volunteers keep local communities informed through county Extension offices. We offer reliable information and programs in the areas of agriculture, food, families, the environment, and 4-H youth development. Let us help you learn, grow, and do more!
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.
Agriculture and Natural Resources
Crops that are primarily grown and sold in Early County include corn, cotton, cattle and peanuts. In 2022, the total Farm Gate value for the county was reported at $137,651,344. In 2022, Early County ranked 8th in the state for total row/forage value, 15th in corn production, 7th in cotton production, 10th in beef cows, and 14th in stockers raised. That same year, Early County ranked 4th in peanut production, with a total value of $32,078,592 in peanuts alone.
This is why the Agriculture and Natural Resources (ANR) Agent in the Early County Extension office has been committed to facilitating an on-farm peanut variety trial. On-farm research trials are a collaboration between the county ANR Agent, State Specialists, and local growers. We firmly believe that there is no better way to gain un-biased variety data regarding disease risk, vigor, yield, and grade, than by conducting research within our own soils. This year, we are conducting a large trial with eight peanut varieties within the county. Also, in this trial, we are implementing plant growth regulator (PGR) research; this will enable us, within Extension, to provide the most current and reliable data to the local growers pertaining to the management of their chosen varieties.
With Agriculture being Early County and the State of Georgia’s largest industry, our goal is to provide support and give local growers practical information so that they can produce and manage their crops with the goal of profitability. We have also held several production meetings related to the major crops of the county, in which UGA Specialists present their data to the growers. This is a convenient way for the growers to have access to yearly research information and get to know those working diligently to assist them through Extension. In turn, the growers can implement recommended and proven strategies of production on their farms with confidence each year. The recently held production meetings included a Peanut Production meeting, a Cotton Production meeting, and a Weed Control meeting. Other relevant production meetings will be held later in the year.
Family and Consumer Sciences
Poverty is defined as a lack of financial resources that prevent people from obtaining basic needs. Those needs range from adequate housing to healthy food to even good healthcare. With the lack of these basic essentials means that the health and wellness of individuals is generally less than adequate. Identified as one of Georgia’s poverty counties, Early County has 22.2% of its population living in poverty, which is above the national average of 12.5%. Georgia also ranks in the bottom five of Georgia’s 159 counties as one of the unhealthiest counties in the state. This opens the door to a variety of programming needs to improve quality of life for citizens in Early County. With the goal of improving the health and wellness of Early County citizens, the Family and Consumer Sciences agent targeted youth in an effort to educate early to lay the foundation for healthier living choices. The agent visited with pre-k and kindergarten students in the classroom at the local public and private schools monthly during the school year, teaching nutrition and healthy living education. A total of 32 classes were taught and educated 768 students on healthy living topics that could have lifelong benefits. Adult healthy living education was also provided to participants at the local senior citizens center and housing authority. Education for adults covered health and wellness focusing on nutrition, chronic disease, diabetes education, asthma and creating healthy home environments. Financial literacy is another way of improving the health wellness of community members. Offering a FREE tax service called VITA was provided to the public during tax season. This tax service saved individuals money and also served as a financial literacy opportunity in addressing financial topics including the importance of savings accounts.
4-H Youth Development
The Georgia 4-H slogan is ‘learn by doing’ and the Early County 4-H Club provides opportunities for 4-H’ers to have a variety of 4-H experiences in which they can learn and do. Providing monthly club meetings that focus on STEM education have provided increased knowledge in the area of science and allow the students to be better prepared for Georgia Milestones tests each spring. In the 2023-2024 school year 650 fifth grade students received STEM education. Community service projects such as collecting pop tabs for the Ronald McDonald House have taught 4-H’ers the importance of giving to others, encouraging the skill of generosity. Early County 4-H’ers have demonstrated research, writing and oral skills through participating in District Project Achievement, with many 4-H’ers receiving honors. Shooting sports have proven very successful in teaching 4-H’ers the fundamentals of archery and shotgun. Weekly practices and competitions allow for increased knowledge and improved scores which help in developing mastery skills. While camp is fun it is also an excellent learning opportunity, a way to develop skills by creating new friendships and enjoying new experiences. These opportunities have afforded Early County 4-H’ers the opportunity to develop the 4-H essential elements of mastery, generosity, belonging and independence.
