-
Silverleaf whitefly (SLWF) is a major pest of agriculture in Georgia requiring management in vegetable and agronomic cropping systems to preserve yield and quality. Our greatest opportunity for impacting the severity of SLWF infestations is to minimize overall SLWF populations moving from one cropping system to the next. This can be accomplished with effective in crop management and timely termination of crops after harvest to minimize the population over time. SLWF populations increase during the year and management within each cropping system significantly impacts subsequent cropping systems. It is important that SLWF management is a priority in all crops that serve as reproductive hosts. Cross-commodity cooperation and management with the objective of minimizing overall SLWF populations will benefit all of Georgia agriculture.
|
-
The state of Georgia ranked ninth out of all states in 2013 for green industry (not including sod production, as this was not included in the analysis) economic contributions (including multiplier effects) to employment (64,066 jobs) and GDP ($3.79 billion) and tenth in total industry output ($6.72 billion). The largest individual sector in regard to output and employment both directly and indirectly was landscape services, representing nearly 57% of industry employment and 39% of economic output. The Georgia green industry represented 0.83% of Georgia gross domestic product (GDP), higher than that of the U.S. green industry as a whole at 0.72% U.S. GDP.
|
-
B 1493
Organic Pecan Production
Organic food production is one of the fastest-growing sectors of the American food marketplace and is driven largely by personal health preferences and environmental ethics. Pecan production generates unique challenges to organic production methods in the humid Southeastern U.S. because it is an environment conducive to heavy pressure from insects, diseases, and weeds. Therefore, the foundation of any organic pecan production program in the Southeastern U.S. will be based on selection for pest-resistant cultivars.
|
-
Amino acids are essential building blocks of proteins and are obtained from plant and animal products. Some amino acids can be synthesized by the chicken, while others (essential amino acids) must be supplied in the diet. In organic poultry production, the sources of these essential amino acids must be organic. This publication compares the amino acid content, digestibility, and availability of organic soybean meal with conventional soybean meal.
|
-
There are a number of different poultry production systems available today, and consumers commonly confuse organic poultry production with other systems. Pasture-raised poultry and natural poultry are not organically produced, as they do not meet all or any of the standards set by the National Organic Program, which regulates and certifies production systems as “organic.” Consumers should be aware of the differences between each of the poultry production systems as they purchase poultry products.
|
-
Currently, European gypsy moth is one of the top quarantine species in the United States. Thanks to the efforts of the U.S. Forest Service and other organizations, such as the Slow the Spread Foundation, the spread of European gypsy moth has slowed dramatically and has yet to become established in Georgia. However, residents and commercial landscape/nursery persons should continually monitor for the pest. This review is intended to provide an introduction to European gypsy moth for residents and green industry professionals in the Southeast. It provides information on European gypsy moth identification, life cycle, means of spread, methods of control, and what can be expected in the Southeast if/when the insect arrives and becomes established.
|
-
Linda Wang, National Timber Tax Specialist, USDA Forest Service
Timber or landscape trees destroyed by the hurricane, fire, earthquake, ice, hail, tornado, and other storms are “casualty losses” that may allow the property owners to take a deduction on their federal income tax returns. The key for most cases is to figure out the “adjusted basis” of the timber. The “Adjusted Basis” of Timber Generally, the cost or the measure of your investment in the property you own is the property’s basis. The original basis is defined as follows: 1) for purchased timber property, it is the purchase price and related costs (such as legal fee and timber cruises); 2) for gifted timber property, it is the donor’s adjusted basis in most instances; 3) for inherited timber property, it is the fair market value (or alternative value if so elected) on the date of death (or alternative valuation date). The “adjusted basis” of a property is the original basis reduced or added by adjustments over the term of ownership (e.g., new purchase increases your timber basis while timber sale decreases your timber basis).
|