FARMERS & CONSUMERS Tommy /rvin, Commissioner Georgia Deparfmenf of Agricu/fure Market Bulletin Volume 59 Thomts 6. Williams, Jr. Beautification - Everybody's Job The University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Service has for many years conducted an educational program toward preser- ving and developing the landscape of the state. In the early years the primary emphasis was on the home landscape. Extension specialists working through 'the local Extension Ag- ents brought ab- out many impro- vements in the home and commu- nity environ- ment. During the pa- st decade the emphasis has sh- ___ _ _ ifted to a more broad-scaled educational approach in the areas of community (Our guest columnist this week is Thomas G, Williams, Jr., Head, Ex- tension Landscape Department, Cooperative Extension Service, University of Georgia, Athens 30601.) ___________ beautification, civic design, highway beautification, and 4-H Community Pride projects. The "Make Georgia Beautiful" program (1965-1970), in cooperation with the Department of Industry and Trade and other state organizations and clubs, was a tremendous success by promoting anti-litter and the planting of flowering trees. Through these projects many worthwhile and con- tinuing efforts in clean-up a-nd civic design projects have made communities cleaner and more visually pleasing. Result landscape demonstration projects have made available good examples of residential and civic designs in all areas of the state. Today the Extension Service is active in conducting short courses, clinics, demonstrations and lectures in communities over the state. The Extension Agents and Extension Landscape Architects working with local clubs, adult education classes in University System colleges, and youth groups plan and conduct short courses on home landscape design and community planning. Radio, TV, slide sets, and publications are used to present the latest landscape design information to the public. The Extension landscape program emphasizes the importance of preserving historical areas, as well as protecting natural beauty. Much emphasis is placed on better land use and site planning, use of native plant materials,, and planning low maintenance landscape developments. Several thousand 4-H club mem- bers annually are given the op- portunity through the "Landscape Project" to learn more about plants and the environment and also make (Continued On Page 8) Wednesday, December 26, 1973 Number 52 Butz Proposes Georgia Soils Need Lime Drastic Change For Maximum Soybean In Leaf Quotas Low soil pH is one of the major limiting factors on many Georgia farms. Numerous crop failures in Georgia have been attributed to unlimed acid soils. These failures have been especially evident on "new-ground" land. Most of Word from Washington as this these Georgia soils are inherently acid and require rather large applications of issue of the Market Bulletin went to lime before crop production should be attempted. press indicated that Secretary of Agriculture Earl Butz is considering increasing and/or completely lifting flue cured tobacco production quotas. The effect on Georgia's number two cash crop could be disastrous. Without production quotas on tobacco and an accompanying price support program, anyone could get in the tobacco growing business. This would result in lowering land values in tobacco producing areas, would threaten a major source of cash farm income for hundreds of farmers, create havoc in our auction market system and other problems for tobacco producing states that are as yet unforeseen. Tobacco farmers in Georgia are urged to contact Secretary Butz's office and their Congressman during the Christmas holidays and express strong opposition to any such changes in our present tobacco production program. WARNING! PESTICIDE DRUMS SHOULD NOT BE REUSED The Georgia Department of Agriculture has received reports that some farmers are possibly using old 55 gallon pesticide drums to store oil and gasoline. This is in-direct violation of the Georgia Pesticide Law and, in addition, can be dangerous. Pesticide authorities warn that the pesticide residue in these drums can be harmful to your engine and the vapor or fumes from the pesticide is dangerous if inhaled. Please READ and FOLLOW the directions on the label when using any pesticide or pesticide container. It is important!. In spite of the demonstrated need to correct low soil pH through sound liming programs, there is an alarmingly high percentage of soils that need lime. A summary of soil test results of the University of Georgia Soi_l and Plant Analysis Laboratory showed that almost 80% of the samples tested required some amount of lime. A recently completed survey of 309 farmer's fields in Southeast Georgia revealed that 43% of the soils such as this, what can one do? In this situation you should always innoculate and apply molybdenum. Molybdenum is not readily available on very acid soils. In fact, one of the reasons for liming is to improve the availability of this nutrient. By sup- plying molybdenum through a seed treatment, you may be able to increase yields on moderately acid soils. The costs per application is not very high when one considers the economic returns. If we assume a Georgia grown tobacco sales cost of $12 per ton for lime spread totaled $86,607,375 this year and tobacco was second only to peanuts in total crop value. Pecans Number 1 on the land, it would require only 2 1/2 bushels of soybeans selling at $5.00 per bushel to pay for one ton Pecan production is estimated at .of lime per acre! Under most Land Judging Experts 86 million pounds for 1973, ac- (Continued On Page 8) Land judging expertise has earned four young men the right to cording to the Georgia Crop Reporting Service. This estimate is 4 million pounds (4 percent) below the Shelf-Life Date represent Georgia 4-H at the International Land Judging Contest in Oklahoma City, April 25-26. These October forecast but 38 million pounds (79 percent) above the 1972 crop and the fourth largest crop of On Milk Products are John Griner, Andy White, and record. The 86 million pound crop A regulation requiring that all Steven Lee of Oconee county and ranks Georgia as the leading pecan milk and milk products sold in Ray Gilbert of Morgan county. producing state. Georgia be clearly labeled with the shelf-life expiration date will become effective March 1 of 1974, according to Commissioner of Agriculture Tommy I rvin. Under the new regulation, each milk product container must be clearly marked with the last date on which the item can be sold or offered for sale, listing either three letters for the month plus the numeral for the date or a numerical series. Thus, December 6 would read either Dec. 6 or 1206. Irvin announced in October that he would seek such a regulation after holding hearings and meeting with dairy industry representatives. He said at that time that such a requirement would not represent a drastic departure from what was already being done in that many processors were putting a shelf life date on milk products but in most instances it was coded and not easily interpreted by the average consumer. Under the regulation, milk processors will be required to certify Nearly everybody loves green beans. Most Market Bulletin readers are familiar with the different styles that can be purchased either canned or frozen in the food store. However, the folks up in the North Georgia mountains have two old time ways of preparing green beans that make for a mouth watering delicacy. At left, Mrs. Gordon Odom of the Lower Young Cane community near Blairsville exhibits sour crock beans in her well stocked cellar pantry. On the right, Mrs. Norine Odom of Blairsville shows dired beans strung with needle and thread which are commonly known as "leather britches." to the State Department of Agriculture the maximum shelf-life of each milk product as well as the calculated life of each product in the hands of the consumer under normal storage conditions. The maximum shelf-life for fluid uncultured milk products will be 10 days from the date of packaging. Page 2 we ad letteu '-- a