News Stories - Page 355

Sorghum plant growing in the field. CAES News
Biofuels research grants
In the ongoing search for cleaner, renewable energy sources, biofuels derived from trees, shrubs and grasses have emerged as a strong candidate. But creating the next generation’s energy source is not as simple as growing a few crops; extensive research is required to ensure these plants produce enough biomass and fuel per acre to make biomass farming economically viable.
Fresh brown eggs from chickens raised by a Pike County, Ga., farmer. CAES News
Raising backyard chickens
If your family is one of the many considering raising a flock of backyard chickens, there are a few things you may want to consider before you bring the birds home to roost.
A roll of freshly harvested sod CAES News
Cuban turf
University of Georgia-licensed turfgrass may soon be growing on Cuban golf courses, sports fields and resorts.
Portable irrigation sets on a sod farm in Fort Valley, Ga. CAES News
Water grass wisely
There have been isolated showers across the state, but many areas have not received the much needed rain. Unless you have been watering it, the grass in your lawn is probably wilted and browning. But if you’ve been watering improperly, you may still find yourself with a less-than-healthy lawn.
Steve Brown is the assistant dean for University of Georgia Cooperative Extension with the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. CAES News
Georgia's biofuel future
I still believe the biofuel era is coming to Georgia. Currently, the risks and uncertainties of anything new are holding things back, but once this train starts moving, it’s going to be a fast one.
Agricultural climatologist Pam Knox's office is filled with volumes of old weather observations. These book contain the original hand written weather statistics from Atlanta in the beginning of the 20th century. CAES News
Agriculture and climate
Farmers can’t control when drought, a late freeze or violent crop-wrenching storms will affect their fields, but they can be prepared when those disasters come knocking.
Soil moisture conditions in the southern half of the state are generally at the fifth percentile, meaning the soils at the end of May would be wetter 95 out of 100 years. CAES News
Drought Impact
The widespread drought that’s made national headlines this week will probably be a boon for some Georgia corn producers, but a costly burden for the state’s poultry and beef industries.
UGA Forage Extension Specialist Dennis Hancock talks about interplanting alfalfa in a bermudagrass pasture at the 2012 Sunbelt Ag Expo Field Day. CAES News
Field Day showcases the very latest in seeds, technology and UGA brainpower
On July 12, trams full of farmers, business administrators and reporters toured trial plots at the Sunbelt Ag Expo Field Day, where University of Georgia agricultural experts discussed the latest scientific research for South Georgia.
In this file photo, an array of pesticides are lined on the shelves of a Griffin, Ga., feed and seed store. CAES News
Read labels
Last Friday, retired University of Georgia Extension Agent Walter Reeves sent an email to several Georgia Extension agents. He shared a link to a CNN story about a man who accidentally killed his 40,000 square foot lawn with a product he thought was just for weed control.