News Stories - Page 26

Poultry may perch atop the agricultural food chain in Georgia, but beef production brought $658.6 million to the state’s economy in 2021. The impact of the beef industry took the No. 5 spot in the top 10 Georgia commodities, according to the 2021 Georgia Farm Gate Value Report published by the University of Georgia Center for Agribusiness and Economic Development.

Consider your favorite breakfast cereal, granola bar or other similar food, then imagine the production facility where it is made. If you picture large machines, conveyor belts and lots of moving parts, you get the gist of the environment. Keeping all these moving parts clean is of utmost concern to manufacturers, who spend considerable time and investment on food safety, making sure their production lines are free from harmful pathogens that may make consumers sick.

Uttam Saha, member of the University of Georgia Radon Team and program coordinator of the UGA Agricultural and Environmental Services Laboratories, said that while indoor air has traditionally been the focus of radon testing, another, lesser-understood route of exposure to radon is through household water — primarily when it is supplied by a private well.

The University of Georgia has introduced a Ph.D. program in regenerative bioscience, to be administered jointly by the Regenerative Bioscience Center and the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. This pioneering effort sets UGA apart as the first institution in the state to provide a formalized doctoral program aimed at nurturing interdisciplinary research and entrepreneurial skills within this growing field.

With a name that conjures the spookiest Halloween imagery, the hickory horned devil (Citheronia regalis) caterpillar is a marvel of nature's creativity, boasting a fearsome-looking appearance that is both off-putting and intriguing. This time of year, unsuspecting passersby may have the rare chance to spot this spectacular caterpillar as it drops from trees.

The University of Georgia Graduate School has honored five outstanding graduates with 2023 Alumni of Distinction Awards. These recipients were selected for achieving exceptional success in their professional careers and for significant service to their communities. “Each of these graduate alumni is distinguished by their professional achievement at the regional, national and international levels,” said Ron Walcott, vice provost for graduate education.

Brewery and beer aficionados have a robust selection of venues to choose from when visiting Athens, Georgia. Anyone over 21 can choose any craft beer brewery in town or try out all six on the Athens Beer Trail. But what about those who want the atmosphere and experience of a brewery without the beer?

It is no secret that the success of Georgia’s No. 1 industry rests in the hands of one key group: farmers. But across generations of farmers who have passed down land and trades to their children, the pressure and stress that comes with carrying on the strong agricultural legacy continue to mount — so much so that it has reached crisis level.

As the world grapples with how to reduce its carbon footprint, it’s clear there’s no silver bullet solution for climate change. It will take a multifaceted approach to scale back fossil fuel usage and find more sustainable alternatives. Several UGA researchers are working on promising pathways like bioenergy and bioproducts, forms of renewable energy and materials that could curb carbon emissions.