Browse Environment Stories - Page 38

Landowners can learn how to care for their land at the 2015 Agroforestry and Wildlife Field Day. The tri-annual educational event is set for Thursday, Sept. 17, 2015, on the University of Georgia campus in Griffin, Georgia.

High summer temperatures and intense sun could reduce Georgia's end-of-season watermelon production this year, according to University of Georgia Cooperative Extension vegetable specialist Tim Coolong. Because of the increased heat over the past week, risk of sunburn for watermelons in the field has been high. If watermelons do scald, they may not be marketable, which may reduce farmers’ normal timeframe for selling their crop.

Heavy rainfall and high winds contributed to Georgia farmers growing fewer Vidalia onions this year, but demand for the popular vegetable and low yields for Texas onions helped keep prices steady.

If you’ve driven down the road alongside an overgrown fence or forested area in north Georgia lately, you were likely overwhelmed with a combination of fragrance from wild Japanese honeysuckle and Chinese privet. Many people assume they are native because they are so common, but neither one belongs on this continent. Both originated in Asia and were introduced to North America in the 1800s for ornamental uses in landscaping.

The University of Georgia C.M. Stripling Irrigation Research Park (SIRP), in Camilla, Georgia, provided heat relief for south Georgia 4-H’ers on Wednesday, June 3, during the annual 4-H20 Camp.

Fortunately, Georgia is not currently under drought conditions. However, more and more people are “living green” and being conservative users of natural resources. It’s easy to conserve water by following these tips from University of Georgia Extension.

In addition to building and maintaining roads, the Georgia Department of Transportation (DOT) mows grass and kills weeds that obstruct drivers’ views. A University of Georgia scientist has created an app to help DOT agronomists kill weeds quicker, using less chemicals.

April 2015 was much warmer and wetter statewide than is usual for the month. The wet conditions caused delays in planting and contributed to some crop disease pressure, while the warm conditions accelerated the growth of plants, like corn, that were already in the ground. While statewide statistics will not be available until later this month, this April is expected to be one of the warmest Aprils on record for Georgia, coming close to the record of 67.9 degrees Fahrenheit set in 2002.

The University of Georgia’s newest entomologist is eyeing a different approach to studying insects in multiple agricultural crops. Instead of focusing on how to eliminate pests that reduce yield and negatively impact profits, UGA entomologist Jason Schmidt is looking to improve agricultural management systems to preserve helpful insects.

There are more than 4,000 species of native bees in North America — from plump, stalwart carpenter bees to the hardworking blueberry bees that help pollinate the state’s top fruit crop.