News Stories - Page 235

Good information is the best defense against the unforeseen circumstances — like changing governmental regulations and weather patterns — that can impact agriculture. That’s why the University of Georgia’s team of agricultural economists kicks off each year with the Georgia Ag Forecast seminar series. There, they present valuable insights into what the upcoming year will hold for the state's largest industry.

This daylong course, hosted by University of Georgia Cooperative Extension’s Beef Team and the staff of the J. Phil Campbell Sr. Research and Education Center, will focus on low-stress animal handling methods that leverage the prey-predator relationship and the psychology of the herd. Cattle experts from Hand 'n Hand Livestock Solutions, founded by gentle herd-handling expert and Bud Box inventor Bud Williams, will present the class.

As a young man working on his family’s farm in Perry, Georgia, Jerry Johnson loved the sight of wheat growing in the fields. Decades later, Johnson, now a respected plant breeder and crop and soil sciences professor, received the 2015 Inventor’s Award from the University of Georgia Research Foundation (UGARF) for his work breeding wheat varieties for farmers in Georgia and across the Southeast.

There’s a huge buildup to the winter holidays. With so much happening, we have little time left to take care of ourselves, and physical and emotional resources may become depleted. Some stress can provide motivation to be productive, but too much stress can be detrimental to health and enjoyment of the season. To make this holiday less stressful and more enjoyable, University of Georgia Cooperative Extension offers the following tips.

Because of their popularity as holiday decorations, poinsettias are the best-selling potted plants in the United States. Here are some facts and history about America’s favorite houseplant.

Winning national championships is becoming routine for the Tift County 4-H Poultry Judging Team.

University of Georgia Cooperative Extension pecan specialist Lenny Wells fears Georgia’s pecan crop will fail to meet initial production projections by as much as 20 million pounds.

Despite their limited, two-month run on retailers' shelves each year, poinsettias are the best- selling potted plant in the United States. Growers sold more than 34.6 million plants in 2014 alone. But that popularity doesn’t always translate into longevity. Come February or March, many of these cherished decorations are droopy, yellowed or worse — in the trash. Here are the top tips on poinsettia care from UGA horticulture expert.

Gifts of food to friends and family are common during the holidays. To help both the gift-giver and the gift-getter keep these foods safe, follow these tips from UGA Extension expert Judy Harrison.