FARMERS & CONSUMERS Tommy Irvin, Commissioner Georgia Department of Agriculture Market Bulletin VOL 69, NO. 43 Wednesday, October 27, 1982 Toikhuj Owiu New Constitution Awaits Your Vote When you go to the polls on November 2, you will vote on a new Constitution for the State of Georgia. The question as it will appear on the ballot will ask you to mark either YES or NO "Shall the propos ed new Constitu tion be ratified as the Constitution for the State of Georgia"? The approval of this new Consti tution by the State Legislature earlier this year presented almost 20 years of effort to revise an archaic and cumbersome Constitution that is nearly 40 years old. Actually, the General Assembly proposed and the people of Georgia ratified and approved a proposed "new" Constitution in 1976, but that document was really not new at all; it was merely a revision of the Con stitution approved way back in 1945, a revision that paved the way for the completely rewritten version now up for your approval. The new Constitution which you will vote on November 2 is the pro duct of years of effort by hundreds of citizens. It was drafted with three major objectives: brevity, clarity and flexibility. No one is likely to agree with everything in the proposal. All mat ters of this kind represent some give and take, but the document does go a long way toward achieving its three principal objectives. The new Constitution is about half as long as the present Constitution; it is better organized and where possi ble, its authors have used simple, modern English to replace archaic and cumbersome terminology. It gives the General Assembly greater legislative flexibility to han dle by statute many matters that must now be addressed in the Con stitution itself. Insofar as agriculture is concern ed, there are provisions that help prevent the loss of prime farm land (Continued on Page 12) Happy Halloween ! It's just not Halloween without a grinning jack-o'-lantern. Billy Parks of Howard and his grand daughter, Heather Tenkins, are cer tainly prepared with this 95 pound jack-'o-lantern. Reduced Pecan Crop From Backyard Trees If you have already started making plans for the pecans that you hope to harvest from the trees in your backyard -- do not count your nuts before they mature. Horticulturists are predicting a short crop from backyard pecan trees this year. The weather seems to be at the root of the problem, according to Dr. Tom Crocker, Extension hor ticulturist in Tifton. "The wet season we've had this year resulted in more disease and insect problems," he ex plained. Scab is one of the most damaging pecan diseases that homeowners must face. The fungal disease re mained dormant for the previous five years of dry weather. However, due to the damp season, the disease is plaguing trees across the state. Commercial growers can control the disease, which causes premature nut drop, with the use of proper chemicals. "The problem is, homeowners do not have the equip ment required to apply chemicals ef fectively," noted Crocker. Hand pump sprayers do not have the power needed to apply chemicals (Continued on Page 12) Special Handicraft Page 2 It looks like the "great pumpkin" has been to visit Hugh Davis and his four year old great-grandson, Ricky. The Acworth gardener pro duced the 184 pound pumpkin in his summer vegetable patch. Patterns Offered For Your Enjoyment Quilt patterns always have been a popular feature in the MARKET BULLETIN. Unfortunately, be cause of limit e d space in the paper, we have been unable to include a pattern for quite some time. However, if you would like to receive instruc tions for making the Bear's Paw quilt (shown here), along with direc tions for making the Pieced Star, Grandmother's Cross, Whirl Wind and Wedding Ring quilt designs, send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to the FARMERS AND CONSUMERS MARKET BULLETIN, Room 227, Capitol Square, Atlanta 30334. On the Farm Front Toxaphene The Environmental Pro tection Agency last week banned most uses of the pesticide toxaphene after it was found to cause cancer in laboratory animals and pro ved toxic to fish, birds and other wildlife. Toxaphene still will be allowed for emergency use in certain instances on specific crops but all treatments are subject to certified applica tion. Contact The Depart ment of Agriculture or your county Extension agent for use guidelines. Loans USDA has announced the Farmers Home Administra tion will drop interest rates for farm operating loans November l. The loan pro gram will drop interest rates to 11.5 percent from the pre sent 13,25 percent. USDA also said that during the next three years $1.5 billion in the form of guaranteed loans will be made to foreign companies abroad and foreign governments to pur chase U.S. farm com modities. Insurance The Federal Crop In surants Corporation has ad vised it will insure wheat and small grain crops only when these crops are planted as recommended varieties. For further information, contact your Federal Crop Insurance agent. Swine Field Days Planned in Tifton The Swine Field Day will be held November 4 at the Coastal Plain Ex periment Station in Tifton. Activities will begin at 1 p.m. at the new swine test unit. Producers will have the op portunity to view the new swine facilities, visit with swine resear chers and Extension specialists and see the Tifton Boar Test in opera tion. The event should conclude at 4:30 p.m. For additional information, con tact Erik Cleveland at 912-386-3364. Page 2 THE MARKET BULLETIN Wednesday, October 27, 1982 SPECIAL HANDICRAFTS Dear Editor: I am interested in obtaining building plans or information on American folk art whirigigs and weathervanes. Ken Williams 120 Julie Road Tyro*ne*, G*eorgia 30290 Dear Editor: Enclosed is a picture of an Eastern Star quilt that I made. I sold it for $55 and gave the money to my church. I am 88 years old and a member of the Eastern Star. Although I am unable to quilt now, I have made many quilts in my lifetime. Mrs. Lee B. Hendrix Star Route Marble Hill, Georgia 30148 Dear Editor: Can any of your readers tell me how to keep carved apple heads for dolls from rooting before they dry? I would ap preciate any information. Mike Green 3045 Spring Branch Way Tuck* er*, G*eorgia 30004 Dear Editor: This is a rough sketch of a knitting board that I and several of my friends have. It has small finishing nails spac ed about one half to three fourth inches apart which yarn is wrapped around. Finished knitting passes through an open C -Q hole in the center of the board. It can be used to knit scarves, sweaters, afghans, etc., but we do not have any in structions on how to use. Can any of your readers help? A.H. Shehane 4617 Dates Avenue Columbus, Georgia 31904 All hand sewn dbl. thickness twin size and crib quilts w/matchlng bumpers, lace borders and ruffles, $125. Dawn White, Dunwoody. Ph. 457-6579.____________ University GA cro afghan-$55, pillow, $25, asstd. granny afghans, $35 incl. post. N. Whitley, Box 738, Marietta 30061. ``Wee Butterfly fridgies", and crafts for sale, sample, $3. Loretta Willis, 808 Lee, Tlfton 31794.______________________ Cro. slippers, makes exc. gift, 1 size fits all, $4.25 ppd., no C.O.D. Mary Nell Whittington, Rt. 1, Arab! 31712._______ Hand cro. puppet doll, $5 plus 50c post. Margaret White, 1827 S. Boyd Dr., S.W., Rocky Face 30740.____________ Cedar blocks, blocks 3x2 in., use as sachets, 60