News Stories - Page 208

Whitefly populations in south Georgia have exploded over the past several weeks, troubling vegetable producers during the fall growing season, according to University of Georgia horticulturist Tim Coolong.

On Nov. 11, the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences will induct former Georgia Rep. Richard Royal and pioneering Georgia soybean specialist John Woodruff into the Georgia Agricultural Hall of Fame.

While the southern half of the state received much needed rain in September from tropical storms Hermine and Julia, farmers in the northern part of the state dealt with what some called “the worst conditions in 60 years.”

When I moved into my new house about this time last year, I was quick to notice my neighbor’s flowers across the street. I could see drifts of wonderful, tall, blue flowers coupled with the complementary orange of swirling Gulf fritillary butterflies. I knew immediately that my neighbor was a real gardener, as those showy blooms could be identified as the native blue mistflower known botanically as Conoclinium coelestinum.

As tropical storms and hurricanes pound the U.S. East Coast, homeowners listen closely to local weather broadcasts. Whether or not a record-breaking storm affects you, University of Georgia experts say that having an emergency food supply on hand is always a good idea.

For the amount of impact they give, crotons are certainly a good investment for home landscapes. Depending on the size you buy, they will reach 2 feet tall and perhaps a little wider. The heat and humidity prevalent in much of Georgia create the perfect conditions to allow crotons to thrive. Wherever I look, whether grown with elephant ears, hibiscus or the Hawaiian ti plant, crotons look festive and tropical.

Georgia 4-H’s 172,354 student members will celebrate National 4-H Week Oct. 2-8. During the week, the state’s largest youth development organization wants to raise awareness of the program that started as a club for farm kids and has grown into a place that helps youth become successful and confident adults.

Georgia farmers plant more than 500,000 acres of peanuts each year, but they’ll be the first to tell you that every acre is different and develops on its own timeline.

A group of Griffin High School biology students visited the University of Georgia Griffin Campus last week to conduct a science experiment under the direction of college students. The UGA students learned to give back to the community and the high school students were exposed to college life and scientific laboratory equipment.