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PAGE 12A — THE MADISON COUNTY (GA) JOURNAL, THURSDAY. JULY 7. 2016
Inaugural Academy of Crop Production
draws dozens of nursery growers
The most important need
for healthy cattle
By Merritt Melancon
University of Georgia
From unmanned aerial
vehicles to remote-sensing
greenhouse control systems,
nursery and greenhouse
growers explored the future
of the green industry as part
of the inaugural Academy
of Crop Production (ACP),
held June 12-15 in Athens,
Georgia.
Hosted by the the Georgia
Green Industry Association
(GGIA) and the Universi
ty of Georgia Department
of Horticulture, part of the
College of Agricultural and
Environmental Sciences,
the three-day conference
offered advanced training on
topics including greenhouse
business, employee man
agement, pathogen control,
ornamental breeding pro
grams and new technology.
The conference brought
together dozens of green
industry leaders from the
Southeast and across the
country, with 18 leading
horticulturists from 14 uni
versities.
"The Academy of Crop
Production was the direct
result of listening to flori
culture and nursery grow
ers from across the nation
who overwhelmingly want
ed an educational event that
addressed topics that were
of value to them,” said Matt
Chappell, associate profes
sor and UGA Cooperative
Extension nursery horticul
turist. “Horticulture events
often focus on consumers
simply because there are
more of them. To be suc
cessful, UGA and trade
associations like the Geor
gia Green Industry Associa
tion need to equip producers
with information that makes
their businesses more profit
able and sustainable."
The new conference draws
on the excitement surround
ing annual UGA events like
the Trial Gardens at UGA's
annual industry open house,
held on June 15, and creat
ed a fun and valuable event
for Southeastern ornamental
growers, said Chris Butts,
executive director of the
GGIA. Organizers have
WHITEHEAD 50™
ANNIVERSARY
CELEBRATED
David and Peggy (Coker)
Whitehead celebrated
their 50 th wedding anni
versary June 25, 2016. A
dinner party was hosted
by their daughter Tame-
la Whitehead Campbell at
the UGA Continuing Edu
cation Conference Center
in Athens and was attend
ed by many friends and
family members.
already set the date for next
year: June 19-21, 2017.
"The ACP provided grow
ers with a unique learning
experience focused on pro
viding a comprehensive
examination of important
issues ranging from tech
nical growing problems to
keeping employees motivat
ed," Butts said. “No other
conference covers such a
wide range of topics while
still providing detailed,
technical solutions to make
attendees better growers.
The variety of topics and
speakers makes this a one-
of-a-kind offering that pro
vides the industry an excep
tional product at a great
value.”
For more information
about this year’s program,
visit http://t.uga.edu/21R.
For photos from the confer
ence, visit flickr.com/pho-
tos/ugacommunications.
Merritt Melancon is a
news editor with the Uni
versity of Georgia College
of Agricultural and Environ
mental Sciences.
By Adam Speir
Extension agent
For beef cattle producers
in the county and across the
state, having healthy cattle
is a critical priority. For
the typical cow-calf pro
ducer. healthy cattle means
producing healthy calves
which means money in the
bank account. While there
are many different aspects
to feeding and caring for
healthy cattle, there is
one need that is, without
a doubt, the most import
ant requirement for healthy
cattle.
Water. Fresh, clean water
to be exact.
Water accounts for
50-to-80 percent of an
animal’s weight, and
water is a requirement for
every physiological pro
cess. Also, water intake
directly impacts animal
performance, feed intake,
and weight gain. With the
current drought conditions
and extreme temperatures,
understanding the appro
priate water quality and
quantity needs of cattle is
arguably the most import
ant aspect of beef cattle
management right now.
Water Quality
Like with humans, poor
water quality impairs cattle
performance, increases dis
ease pressure, and results
in decreased performance.
Cattle watering directly in
farm ponds and streams
is a common practice, but
a practice that can reduce
potential farm profits.
Animal waste that is direct
ly put into surface water
leads to high nitrate levels
which can cause chron
ic and acute issues with
cattle, even death. Waste
also leads to an increase
in bacteria, algae blooms,
and foul tastes and odors
that reduce an animal's
likelihood of drinking
enough water on a daily
basis. During these times
of drought, especially in
waters high in nutrients,
a specific type of algae
known as blue-green algae
can release toxins into
waters that can kill cat
tle. This has been seen as
recently as a few years ago
in north Georgia.
There are incentive
and cost-share programs
through federal agencies
like the Natural Resource
Conservation Service that
available for producers
who wish to reduce their
livestock’s dependence
on surface water. This
includes money to fence
cattle out of streams, install
water drinkers, and limit
access to farm ponds to
prevent animal waste and
bank erosion. Producers
can also pipe water out of
ponds and streams to cat
tle to help reduce water
quality impacts on cattle
performance.
Water Quantity
According to University
of Georgia animal scien
tists, cows and bulls will
need 15-to-20 gallons of
water per day during the
summer months. These are
estimates and are affected
by other variables such as
animal size, stage of pro
duction, condition, diet,
and average daily tem
perature. As mentioned,
when cows are required to
drink water of poor qual
ity, they often drink less
than required. This will
also lead to reduced forage
intake and poor gains.
Water is the most import
ant requirement for healthy
cattle and research has
proven that animal perfor
mance is improved when
clean water is provided
to livestock. During these
difficult weather condi
tions, water consideration
is even more important for
managing your cattle herd.
Animal health, and even
life, are at risk due to poor
water quality. Consider
making every effort to pro
vide clean water for your
livestock.
Adam Speir is Madison
County’s Cooperative
Extension Agent for
agriculture and natural
resources.
The Madison County Journal is your
source for local news. Call 800-795-
2581 to subscribe or visit us online at
MadisonJ our nalTOD AY. com
Zika is making headlines, but West Nile
virus may be more prevalent this year
By Merritt Melancon
University of Georgia
With its shocking impact
on babies and mothers,
the Zika virus has gotten
a lot of attention. How
ever, some entomologists
are looking at the current,
abnormally dry weath
er and becoming con
cerned that another mos
quito-borne illness could
become a threat later this
summer.
Climatically, the stage
has been set for West Nile
vims to spread later this
summer, said Elmer Gray, a
public health entomologist
with University of Georgia
Cooperative Extension.
The northern half of
Georgia experienced
extremely dry or drought
conditions throughout
June. That dry weather has
suppressed some mosquito
populations, but it may be
setting the state up for late
summer's southern house
mosquitoes, which carry
the West Nile vims.
Despite their name,
southern house mosquitoes
don’t breed in homes. They
prefer the stagnant waters
and stable temperatures of
storm drain systems and
catch basins. Gray said.
During non-drought peri
ods, southern house mos
quito eggs and larvae are
washed out of storm drains
by frequent rainfall. But
when rainfall is scarce, the
eggs are left to develop
in the stagnant water that
often stands in catch basins
and storm drains.
During times of drought,
public health experts and
entomologists often see an
uptick in southern house
mosquito populations and
cases of West Nile virus.
In 2012, during the
state's last prolonged and
serious drought, Georgia
saw 117 cases of West
Nile virus, more than four
times as many as report
ed in 2011, according to
the Georgia Department of
Public Health.
Southern house mosqui
toes are most active — and
West Nile vims transmis
sion is most common —
during late summer and
early fall, with the period
from August 15 to Septem
ber 15 being the historical
peak of the transmission
season.
About 80 percent of peo
ple infected with West Nile
vims show no symptoms.
A small population of
those infected will experi
ence body and joint aches,
rashes, vomiting and diar
rhea, according to the Cen
ters for Disease Control
and Prevention.
Of those patients becom
ing ill, some will experi
ence an inflammation of
the brain and surrounding
tissue, causing neurologi
cal symptoms with recov
ery periods lasting weeks
or months. Older Geor
gians are much more like
ly to become seriously ill
from West Nile virus.
Since families are
often not able to control
the nearby population of
southern house mosqui
toes, they need to protect
themselves from bites by
using repellents, includ
ing DEET; wearing light
weight, long-sleeved shirts
and pants; and making sure
their houses are fitted with
working window screens.
For more information
about mosquitoes in Geor
gia, visit ent.uga.edu/pubs/
mosquitos.htm.
Merritt Melancon is a
news editor with the Uni
versity of Georgia College
of Agricultural and Envi
ronmental Sciences.
ARE YOUR KIDS READY
FOR BACK TO SCHOOL?
DJJ offers online crime tip line
The Georgia Department of Juvenile
Justice’s (DJJ) newly-established intelligence
unit has a web-based tip line.
Those who want to share information
about possible dangerous, illegal or unethical
activities at DJJ facilities may submit
information through the DJJ’s website at www.
djj.state.ga.us.
The TIP Line is designed to be an essential
security tool where state employees and the
public can submit confidential information
that can impact the safety and security of
both detainees and staff in DJJ’s secure
facilities and court Service offices, according
to commissioner L. Gale Buckner.
Agency Intelligence Analysts hope the TIP
Form will encourage the flow of critical inside
information from throughout the DJJ detention
system to help reduce criminal activity and
unethical behavior, prevent injuries and save
lives. Investigators are specifically hoping to
follow-up on tips about illegal gang activity,
contraband smuggling and unlawful or
unethical staff policy violations.
‘Tips can be about all types of relevant
incidents or activities throughout the DJJ
system,” Buckner said. “These tips can be
submitted completely anonymously or if they
want a whistleblower can include contact
information for follow-up. It’s all up to them.”
The innovative new system is devised so that
tips submitted online will remain confidential
and reviewed solely by the DJJ Intelligence
Unit.
Don’t Forget About
Immunization Requirements!
Madison County
D HEALTH
DEPARTMENT
706.795.2131