Newspaper Page Text
The True Citizen, Wednesday, December 23, 2009 — Page 11A
In the Furrow
Very” Late Planting of Small Grains
By Peyton Sapp
County Extension Coordinator
Wet weather continues to affect
Burke County farmers. Fields
have typically been too wet to
plant small grains. Wheat acres
were expected to drop this year,
but, there are fewer acres planted
than expected. The question is
can small grains be planted this
late?
Many factors determine the ef
fects that planting dates have on
small grain production. Tempera
ture, moisture, disease, weeds,
and/or insect pressure and sun
light are the environmental fac
tors that generally affect plant
growth during the fall and winter
months. Since these factors vary
from year to year the best plant
ing dates are often moving tar
gets. Typically, the week before
and after the first frost day, is usu
ally thought of as the ideal pe
riod to plant. Usually this is some
time around mid-November.
Planting in this window of time
allows small grains to grow roots
deep enough and produce enough
tillers to sustain an excellent yield
potential. If you plant after these
dates, growing degree units de
cline and negatively affect the
number of tillers and roots that
can be produced. Very seldom are
yields of a December-planted
crop better than one that is
planted in November. In addition,
the vernalization requirement of
the variety may not be met when
planted late in the season thus
delaying the reproductive phase
and growth at the proper time.
Grain yields of late planted small
grains will easily be reduced 25
to 75% of normal. Yield loss pro
gressively increases the later one
plants. The same is tiue for plant
ing small grains for cover crops.
Some small grain planting is
still going to occur. Medium to
late maturing, long vernalizing
varieties should be only planted
early to mid way of the planting
window. Medium maturing vari
eties with medium to short ver
nalization varieties can be planted
throughout the planting window.
Yield reductions occur less
with medium to early maturing/
medium to short vernalizing va
rieties when planted late as com
pared to the later materials. If you
are two to four weeks past your
prime planting period, then only
use short to medium vernalizing
varieties.
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Merry Christmas - from 4-H
Pinecone Christmas trees were given to Burke County Hospital patients and
clients of Forever Angels Adult Day Care Center. The trees were made by 4-
H’ers, from left, front row: Deon Williams, Lelan Eberly, Michaela Pollex, Jennifer
McDaniel and Derrick Dixon; and back row: Chaz Williams, Cynthia Eberly and
Brendon Eberly.
Home & Garden Tips
It’s the Holiday Season Again
By Roosevelt McWilliams
County Extension Agent
This time of year provides me
a perfect opportunity to reflect
upon this past year’s experi
ences and other years in my
life. Among memories are
those of Christmas past, fam
ily members, friends, and those
who have touched my life. The
holiday season has a tendency
to bring the best memories of
the past back to us, and if we
are truthful to ourselves, some
times it saddens us because the
ones who helped make those
memories are no longer with us
physically.
Christmas is a time of reflec
tion and rejuvenation, allowing
us to recover from our hectic
lifestyles. It is a time for us to
relax and enjoy the happiness
that seems to permeate the air
during this time of the year.
This is a time for us to reflect
on our many blessings and give
thanks for them. Allow me to
share with you some things I
am thankful for.
As Americans, we should re
alize that one of the key rea
sons we are not dependent on
other nations is because of the
strength of our agricultural in
dustry and the hard work of the
farming population that makes
up less than 2 percent of the
nation’s population. Agricul
ture is one of the largest em
ployers in Georgia. One in ev
ery six Georgians works in ag
riculture, forestry or a related
sector. Production agriculture
is a $57 billion industry in
Georgia.
Georgia farm and timber
landowners provide environ
mental benefits to the state by
preserving natural habitats for
native plants and animals.
However, adverse weather con
ditions and low commodity
prices are making it tough on
our farmers. As you count the
blessings this past year has
brought, remember to add
Georgia farmers to your list.
They have proudly labored all
year in spite of the drought to
produce food to feed not just
their families, but also the rest
of the world. As consumers, we
owe them much more than they
are paid for battling Mother
Nature and declining prices.
I am thankful for families,
friends, and dedicated co
workers.
I am thankful for this great
country, and even with its many
faults, it is far greater than any
other nation on earth. I am
thankful for the Burke County
Master Gardeners who worked
hard again this year to make
Burke County a better place to
live.
I am thankful for the gener
osity of so many of our people
who are touching countless
hearts and souls through
thoughtful acts of kindness.
You do this by answering the
call to serve others.
I hope you and your family
enjoy the holiday season.
Recipes from Louise
By Louise McClain
Special to The True Citizen
The Christmas season holds
different meanings for each of
us. We celebrate the season by
observing family traditions like
putting up a Christmas tree, pre
paring foods for festive occa
sions, gift giving, participating
in Christmas plays and cantatas,
and caroling. Perhaps to most of
us, Christmas is a combination
of all these. It’s the season of
special family times and good
will to men. As we gather to
gether with family and friends
this Christmas, let’s not forget
that.//?.S’US’ is the reason for the
season. Merry Christmas!
Cranberry Congealed Salad
1 (3-oz.pkg. cherry-flavored gelatin
% cup boiling water
1 (16-oz.can whole-berry cranberry
sauce
1 orange, peeled, sectioned,
chopped, and drained
1 /2 cup diced apple
1 /2 cup chopped pecans
Lettuce leaves
2TBSP sour cream
2 TBSP mayonnaise or salad
dressing
Combine gelatin and boiling
water, stirring 2 minutes or un
til gelatin dissolves. Stir in cran
berry sauce. Chill until mixture
is the consistency of unbeaten
egg white. Fold in orange,
apple, and pecans. Spoon mix
ture into 6 lightly-oiled 1/3-cup
molds or custard cups; cover
and chill until firm. Unmold sal
ads onto lettuce leaves. Com
bine sour cream and mayon
naise; serve with salads or top
each with a dollop. Makes 6
servings.
Honey Glazed Ham
2 (8-oz.) fully-cooked ham steaks
14 cup honey
3 TBSP water
1 1 /2 tsp. dry mustard
1 /2 tsp. ground ginger
1 /2 tsp. ground cloves
Pan-fry or broil ham steaks
until lightly browned and thor
oughly heated. Remove ham
from skillet or broiler pan. Com
bine honey, water and spices;
add to pan drippings and bring
to a boil. Simmer 1 to 2 min
utes. Brush over ham. Serve
ham with remaining sauce.
Serves 4.
Festive Rice
14 cup oil
214 cups instant rice, uncooked
1 medium green pepper, chopped
1 envelope Italian or Mild Italian Salad
Dressing Mix
214 cups water
2 TBSP chopped pimiento or fresh
parsley
Heat oil in large skillet on
medium heat. Add rice and pep
per; cook and stir 2 minutes.
Sprinkle with salad dressing
mix. Stir in water; cover. Bring
to boil. Remove from heat. Let
stand 5 minutes or until liquid
is absorbed. Stir in pimiento.
Makes 6 servings.
Holiday Fruitcake
2 eggs
2 cups water
2 pkgs. date or nut bread mix
2 cups pecans
2 cups raisins
2 cups (12 or 13 oz.) candied cherries
1 cup candied pineapple, cut in
wedges
14 cup rum or brandy
Grease and flour bottom and
sides of 12-cup bundt fluted pan
or 10-inch angel food pan. In
large bowl, combine eggs and
water. Add remaining ingredi
ents by hand. Stir until com
bined. Pour into prepared pan.
Bake at 350 degrees for 65-70
minutes or until toothpick in
serted in center comes out clean.
Cool 30 minutes. Loosen edges
and remove from pan; cool
completely. To store, wrap
tightly in foil or plastic; refrig
erate. If desired, glaze with
warm corn syrup, decorate with
candied fruits and nuts. Tip: If
desired, substitute Vi cup rum or
brandy for a Vi cup water and
add 2 tablespoons of rum or
brandy flavoring to the water.
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