FARMERS & CONSUMERS Tommy Irvin, Commissioner Georgia Department of Agriculture Market Bulletin Vol. 68, No. 35 Wednesday, September 1, 1982 UJ. C. McComick Convenient UHT Dairy Products Studies Accent Introduced to Georgia Consumers Wise Land Use Agricultural research at the Georgia Coastal Plain Experiment Station, Tifton, centers around the activities of 45 state scientists resear ching in the areas of agricultural engineering, agro nomy, animal science, entomo logy, horticulture, and plant patho logy. Approximately the same number of federally employed scien tists, also located at Tifton, are actively researching in most of these same major areas. An excellent spirit of cooeration exists (Our guest columnist this week is W. C. McCormick, Resident Director of the Coastal Plain Experiment Station, Tif ton 31794.) betwee'n both groups as they direct their research toward the produc tion, harvesting, storage, and marketing problems of important crops of this area. They function as individuals, but units also cooperate resulting in team research within and between disciplines. Presently this station is placing major emphasis on maximum use of land. We cannot afford the luxury of owning high priced non-productive land. Systems of production are be ing developed whereby two to four crops are grown per acre annually. Georgia now has more than a million acres under irrigation. Thus as you might expect, major emphasis is directed toward the efficient use of water for crop production. The scientists are concerned with how much water to apply, when it should be applied, and by what method. A team of 16 scientists are direc ting their research toward this especially important area in an at tempt to develop workable produc tive programs. We now hear the word chemigation used frequently. This means that chemicals (her bicides, fertilizer, insecticides) are being applied through irrigation systems. The Coastal Plain Station (Continued on Page 12) Georgia consumers will be the first in the nation to have the opportunity to buy UHT milk, the first commercially produced Grade "A" ultra high temperature milk in the country. UHT milk is fresh, Grade "A" milk that needs no refrigeration for up to ag consumer line. . . For the past few years, something has been eating on my lima beans. Can someone look at this sample and tell me what is doing this? S.M. Pine Mountain The damage to the lima beans you submitted is caused by stink bugs. Fifty percent Sevin spray, Thiodan or Malathion is recommended. *** More than 500 guests attended the 50th anniversary celebration and field day at the Georgia Moun tain Branch Agricultural Experi ment Station near Blairsville. The station, part of the University of Georgia College of Agriculture, was established to upgrade the vegetable and fruit economy of the area. Research done at the station created the first industry in Union County -- the growing of quality bell peppers. The development of a disease spray program by scientists also did much to save the apple in dustry in Georgia. I purchased a bushel of butterbeans and only got 30 pounds. Is this an accepted standard? I thought a bushel was a volume of measure. I have purchased bushels in the past and got much more for my money. P.J. Columbus Vegetables that are sold by the bushel do have accepted standards of weight per bushel. Butterbeans are 30 pounds per bushel. We have sent you the most current list of vegetable weights per bushel, box, crate and barrel. Popular Georgia Watermelons Continue to Enjoy Sweet Success Although no one knows exactly when the first watermelon was planted in Georgia, the fruit has been among the state's leading truck crops for many years. Georgia melons were shipped to Northern states by boat as early as 1853. In 1867, an Augusta farmer began shipping watermelons to New York packed with straw in crockery crates. It is said that his profit was so great the he gave others the incentive to plant watermelons. Within the next 10 years, Augusta was shipping 60,000 melons each season. By the 1890's, commercial produc tion of watermelons gained a perma- (This is the sixth in a series of ar ticles about the history of Georgia agriculture.) nent foothold in Georgia. In fact, the fruit was considered king of the wiregrass area of the state. Because of the state's success in the watermelon industry, the Na tional Watermelon Association was established in Morven, Georgia in 1914. Originally known as the Melon (Continued on Page 12) three months or until it is opened. Achieved through flash pasteuriza tion and packaging in a five layer, aseptic carton, the milk contains no preservatives or artificial additives. The process is indeed revolu tionary. Fresh, Grade "A" raw milk is heated to around 280F and held at that temperature for a few seconds before being cooled to around 70F. The milk is then packaged in a durable carton made from sand wiching three layers of polyethylene with a layer of aluminum foil and a layer of base paper. By contrast, con ventional pasteurization heats the milk to 160F. UHT milk's primary advantage is that it does not need refrigeration until it is opened. UHT milk is con venient to carry to work, on trips, or for outings. Because it's fresh, fluid Grade "A" milk, it tastes and is like the milk consumers are used to drinking. Hailing the milk as "a major (Continued on Page 12) j ! Farmland Edition , Coming Soon I | The fall farm land edition 1 | of the Farmers and Consumer | | Market Bulletin has been I I scheduled for an earlier date 1 | this year. It will be published | September 22. Deadline for | ' this issue is September 8. I ' All notices must be receiv- | ed in writing prior to the | deadline. Ads are limited to 1 30 words including name | and address. Please indicate * county where property is -* located and acreage. Also, please include your phone number in case we have questions regarding your ad. All ads published in the farm land edition must be submitted by individual % owners. No realtors or | agents are allowed to adver- | tise. 1 Page 2 THE MARKET BULLETIN Wednesday, September 1, 1982 w