UGA Cooperative Extension is a collaboration between UGA CAES and UGA FACS.

UGA Extension Office

Agriculture & Natural Resources

Tift County Cotton Farmer awarded State Cotton Quality Award

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Tift County Producer Update Blog

  • John Deere Cotton Picker Yield Monitor and Handler Weight Calibration Posted by jhand on Sep 29, 2026
    This is a great article by Dr. Wes Porter and his team on calibrating yield monitors and handler weight in JD cotton pickers. Let me know if you need any help with this. https://precisionagirrigation.extension.uga.edu/2026/09/calibrating-handler-weight-and-yield-monitor-on-a-john-deere-cotton-picker/
  • Cotton Defoliation 9/28/26 Posted by jhand on Sep 28, 2026
    If you’ve got cotton ready to defoliate, this is a week I’d try to get after it. We’re looking at highs in the upper 80s across the state and lows in the 60s to low 70s, so conditions should be pretty good for defoliation. Once those cooler temperatures arrive, we’ll probably need to adjust rates […]
  • Cotton Defoliation 9/21/2026 Posted by jhand on Sep 21, 2026
    Recipe for the week: Looks like we’ve got a slight change in the weather this week, which may mean adjusting our defoliation plans. For the most part, we’ll go from the low 90s into the upper 80s through Wednesday, then temperatures look to drop into the upper 70s. By Friday, some places may even see […]

Expert Resources

Building a Home Emergency Kit
Building a Home Emergency Kit Posted by Ashlee Tziganuk, Jermaine Durham on Sep 24, 2026
Vermicomposting Basics for Gardens, Landscapes, and Farms: From Food Scraps to Soil Amendment
Vermicomposting Basics for Gardens, Landscapes, and Farms: From Food Scraps to Soil Amendment Posted by Bethany Harris, Heather Kirk Ballard, Joshua Fuder on Sep 11, 2026
Winter Protection of Ornamental Plants
Winter Protection of Ornamental Plants Posted by Robert Westerfield on Sep 3, 2026

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.

Upcoming Events:

  • Sep 30 UGA Extension Journeyman Farmers Certificate Program Small Fruit and Vegetable Production Section The Journeyman Farmers Certificate Program Small Fruit and Vegetable Production Section covers a multitude of subjects relating to crop production. The program was developed in partnership with Georgia Organics and the Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association. Topics include Soil health and fertility, soil amendments and fertilizers, cover crops, crop rotations, pest management, crop selection, crop propagation, equipment, post-harvest handling, food safety, and marketing.
    • Virtual Event
    • Lawrenceville, GA
  • Oct 1 UGA Extension Journeyman Farmers Certificate Program Small Fruit and Vegetable Production Section The Journeyman Farmers Certificate Program Small Fruit and Vegetable Production Section covers a multitude of subjects relating to crop production. The program was developed in partnership with Georgia Organics and the Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association. Topics include Soil health and fertility, soil amendments and fertilizers, cover crops, crop rotations, pest management, crop selection, crop propagation, equipment, post-harvest handling, food safety, and marketing.
    • Virtual Event
    • Lawrenceville, GA
  • Oct 1 Journeyman Farmer Certificate Program Part 1: Small Business Build a strong foundation for your farm business by learning about market feasibility, financial management, risk management, marketing, technology, and business planning. Gain practical insights from successful small farms to help your operation thrive.
    • Lincolnton, GA