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.
Agriculture and Natural Resources
IMPACT STATEMENT October 2022
Treutlen Extension Educates Local Bobwhite Quail Producer on Feed Ration
Summary
A local quail producer contacted the Treutlen County Extension Agent. The producer was in search of a feed ration for raising Bobwhite Quail. The producer not only gained valuable knowledge from the agent but also saved a considerable amount of money.
Situation
A local quail producer came to the Treutlen County Extension Agent with questions about a feed ration for raising Bobwhite Quail. The producer informed the agent he was purchasing a premixed feed ration which had increased $200 per ton within the past year. The producer informed the agent he owned all the equipment needed to mix his own feed ration.
Response
The agent discussed the importance of proper nutrition in successfully raising Bobwhite Quail with the producer. The agent reached out to the Georgia Poultry Lab in Gainesville for guidance with a productive feed ration. The agent then contacted a local feed supplier which stocked soybean meal and the medicated mineral supplement needed in the Bobwhite feed mix. The agent also introduced the producer to a local farmer who sold corn in bulk.
The agent found the cost of the corn in bulk was $8 per bushel, soybean meal $19.50 per 50 pound bag and medicated supplement $30 per 50 pound bag.
Once the feed had been mixed, the agent submitted a sample to the Feed Lab in Athens for testing. The feed met all the needed requirements.
Impact
The producer raises approximately 2000 Bobwhite quail each 16 week period. The quail consume an average of 350 lbs of feed per week, totaling 5,600 lbs of feed per 16 week period.
The cost of 5600 lbs of premixed feed is $2352. The cost of the producer mixing his own feed is $1300 for 5600 lbs of feed.
The producer raises 3 groups of quail per year increasing his profits by $.53 per quail.
By seeking advice from the agent, the producer saved a total of $3156 on feed.
4-H Youth Development
The Treutlen County 4-H prides itself on the 4-H motto, "To make the best better." We take pride in each one of our 4-H’ers and hope we can impact their lives where dexterity is shown throughout all aspects of their work.
Treutlen County 4-H’ers have participated in several community service projects where the world of work and play collide. During a “normal year” our 4-H’ers are usually seen at our local nursing home and assisted living center packing food bags for the elderly, handing out donated goods, or playing and singing a tune with the residents. However, due to Covid-19, many of our beloved events and activities were cancelled or postponed.
One event we especially missed was our 4-H Color Run/5K. The 4-H Color Run/ 5k began in an effort to raise money for our 4-H club. However, this event quickly turned into a fun community gathering where leadership and knowledge were gained. In 2020 since this event was cancelled due to Covid-19, our local community stepped in and donated money to our 4-H program. This enabled our 4-Her’s to craft together food boxes for patients at the Tommy and Shirley Strickland Cancer Center!
Family and Consumer Sciences
Although Treutlen County does not have a Family and Consumer Sciences (FACS) agent based in the county Extension office, we strive to assist local residents with their questions. Common questions cover food safety, food preservation, dealing with mold and mildew, healthy meal planning, nutrition, family budgeting, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education (SNAP-Ed) resources and more. These issues and others are answered through a wide variety of free UGA Extension publications available at the county office and phone conferences with Family and Consumer Sciences agents from surrounding counties. Neighboring FACS agents often conduct programming that our county residents are welcome to attend. Our office can provide information about programming in surrounding counties.