Agriculture & Natural Resources
Tift County Producer Update Blog
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Weekly County Update 5/20/2022 Cotton: Be careful if you’re dusting in cotton on dryland. Trying to catch a light rain is risky because with the elevated temperatures this week, we could burn the seed. You may be better off putting the seed a little deeper if there is moisture about an inch or so...
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Weekly County Update 5/13/2022 Friday the 13th Edition Cotton: Been seeing and hearing a lot of thrips. Don’t be alarmed because thrips will probably infest about 99% of our cotton crop. Thrips pressure is lower in strip till systems. We don’t want thrips feeding on young fresh germinated cotton. 1-2 leaf cotton has greater...
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Fusarium Head Blight in Wheat Wheat fields have started to flower which means the time has come to decide if a fungicide application should be made to protect from Fusarium Head Blight (FHB). In our area, FHB, also known as wheat scab, is most commonly caused by the fungus F. graminearum and can be devastating...
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.
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.
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.
Extension News:
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Revolutionizing seaweed When you hear the word agriculture, seaweed might not be the first thing that comes to mind.
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Integrative Precision Agriculture Institute Unit will catalyze interdisciplinary research and connect researchers and students with industry partners.
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Lettuce Microbiome By studying the interactions between EcO157 and the lettuce microbiome — the entire community of microorganisms like bacteria that live on the surface of lettuce — researchers hope to better understand how the microbiome may affect the pathogen’s fate during produce processing.
Upcoming Events:
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May 23 - May 25 Manager ServSafe Training You can improve your food safety and sanitation skills through a nationally recognized food safety sanitation course. The class is 12 hours + exam by a Certified ServSafe Trainer of UGA Family and Consumer Sciences, Mitzi Parker. This course meets the new GA Food Code requirements and is certified through the National Restaurant Association and includes the course book, supplies, educational materials, exam, instruction, and refreshments. Successful completion of the exam provides certification. The class fee of $140.00 includes course book, supplies, educational materials, exam, and instructions.
- Americus, GA