News Stories - Page 361

The Conserve Research Program helps landowners protect their land – a precious natural resource. But landowners can’t participate if they don’t know about the program.

Seven years ago Chris Hopkins and his wife Marilynn started their row crop operation on 50 acres of rented land in Toombs County. Since that time, the Hopkins’ farm has grown to encompass 600 acres of cotton, peanuts, corn timber, watermelons and pecans.

If you are planning to add to new plant material to your landscape, University of Georgia Cooperative Extension specialists recommend keeping a few things in mind before you dig your first shovel-full of dirt.

Georgia cattle farmers, both large and small scale, will learn useful research-based information at the annual University of Georgia Mountain Beef Cattle Field Day April 18 in Blairsville, Ga.

This year’s exceptionally warm winter and the early spring temperatures mean Georgians may be dealing with warm weather pests, like ticks and mosquitos, earlier this year.

Before starting a business, it’s essential that entrepreneurs have their personal finances in order, said University of Georgia consumer economics specialist Michael Rupured. He and other faculty in the UGA College of Family and Consumer Sciences will be offering workshops on personal finance throughout Georgia during the next several months

The majority of weeds that are growing this time of year are called winter annual weeds. Weeds that are actively growing in lawns and pastures include henbit, chickweed, wild radish, buttercup, hop clover and catchweed bedstraw.

Nature is a system of checks and balances, as is the case between aphids and wasps. Aphids feed on plants; wasps lay eggs inside aphids, killing them and increasing plant production. Some aphids harbor bacterial symbionts, or smaller organisms that live in close association with a host, that provide protection by killing the internally developing wasps. Wasps are able to decipher which aphids are infected and use superparasitism to override the poison.

Often purchased as a gift plant, bigleaf hydrangea can be transplanted in landscapes and enjoyed year after year.