FARMERS & CONSUMERS Tommy lrvinf Commissioner Georgia Department of Agriculture Market Bulletin Vol. 68, No. 52 Wednesday, December 29, 1982 Tojfutuj 9twH .J fjeu, yea? UJnk Rabbiteye Blueberries Add The Good Year That Went Bad As the year end draws near, it's a good time to reflect a little on where we are with agriculture in Georgia. Our farmers set several new records this year in crop production, I attesting to the ef1 ficiency and quali- Sj ty of Georgia far ming. y We just com pleted the corn harvest with a record per acre K production of 80 I bushels. Soy1 beans, too, are ex pected to set a new record with a 27 bushel per acre yield. Cotton yields, which had never reached 500 pounds per acre since official estimates began in 1866, top ped the previous record by 104 pounds for a whopping 603 pound per acre average. You would think with those kind of figures Georgia farmers would be better off than they've ever been before. Unfortunately, that's not the case. Our farmers have just come through terrible drought years. At the same time, crop prices were fall ing drastically and farm debt was climbing dramatically. A national oversupply of essen tially all major commodities produc ed in Georgia, export markets under mined by U.S. embargoes and sanc tions, the strength of the dollar in ex change with foreign currency and foreign government subsidies in violation of trade agreements all con tributed to, low product prices, leav ing farmers stuck trying to service unprecedented levels of debt. But here we are this year produc ing some of the best crops Georgia has ever made, and the prices farmers get just barely, if at all, meet production costs. It surely doesn't pay the debt. What's being done to keep our farmers farming? We've been working closely with our farm leaders here at home and (Continued on Page 8) May the new year bring us: Enough happiness to keep us Beauty to Your Landscape sweet; Enough trials to keep us strong; Enough hope to keep us lively; Enough sorrows to keep us dependent on God; Enough failure to keep us humble; Enough success to keep us eager; Enough friends to give us comfort; Enough wealth to meet our needs; Enough enthusiasm to keep us looking forward; Enough faith to overcome despair; And enough determination to use every day and situation somehow for good. Now is the time to plant rabbiteye blueberry plants. As time goes by, they will add spring beauty and distinction to your landscape and bring new charm and interest to your home ground. Horse Edition The special horse edition of the Market Bulletin is coming January 12. This issue will include notices for horse shows scheduled for January, February and March as well as at stud notices, boarding facilities and miscellaneous equine equipment If your organization has a show scheduled for January, February or March, submit your announcement not to exceed 30 words, by January 5. If possible, include rain dates and a phone number for additional information. Deadline for at stud, boar ding and miscellaneous equine equipment notices is also January 5. Blueberries are a part of a good life. Ripening in early summer in dicates the beginning of summer. When rabbiteye blueberries are ripe, they taste delicious and they stir us to bring out the recipes for family favorites that bring back happy memories of earlier years. They also challenge us to try new recipes and make, some of our own. But they also make for the good life because rab biteye blueberries are a natural health food. In general, rabbiteye blueberry plants are not sprayed for diseases nor insects. Breeding and selection have just about eliminated most pro blems. Nutritionally, blueberry fruit are excellent sources of Vitamin A and C and contribute significant quantities of calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium and iron to the diet. They are popular with (Continued on Page 8) Ga. Quilt Contest Old Fashioned Quilts Remain Pleasant Reminders of the Past Quilting, once a necessary household skill, has now become an enjoyable pastime for many. Although quilts still serve a functioned purpose, they also provide a valuable form of folk art. The basic concept of quilting is believed to have originated in the Far East during the eleventh century. However, early American women were probably the first to combine simplistic beauty with the practicali ty of the item. On the frontier, textiles were often hard to come by. In their "make do" tradition, pioneer women utilized worn out clothing and other material scraps to create beautiful, yet warm coverlets. Quilting provided an ideal outlet for creativity and quilting bees gave the women folk an excellent ex cuse to get together and share the latest community news. The names of quilt designs, passed down from mother to daughter for generations, arouse interest, im agination and often give a hint about their origin. For example, nature was probably one of the major in fluences for patterns. The Maple Leaf, Rose, Pine Tree, Bear's Paw, and Bird's Nest are examples. Job's Tears, Jacob's Ladder, Star of Bethlehem and Joseph's Coat ob viously resulted from a Biblical in fluence. Patterns such as the Indian Hatchett, Road to Oklahoma, Log Cabin, Churn Dash and Red Schoolhouse, bring back memories of pioneer days. In addition, various star designs were popular motifs. For years, thp MARKET BULLETIN, has played a significant role in making the craft of quilting available to the public. Dozens of (Continued on Page 8) The Savannah Science Museum is sponsoring "Quilt Georgia," a state-wide quilt contest to celebrate Georgia's 250th birthday. Quilters across the state are urged to participate. Your quilts will pay tribute to Georgia -- its past and pre sent. Categories are architec ture, cultural and heritage, flags, industry, people, plants and animals, religion, sports and transportation. Cash awards will be given with respect to artistic merit of the quilt design, originali ty of the interpretation and complexity of the technique. Contest quilts, as well as Savannah Heirloom quilts, will be displayed in the Science Museum April 5-17, 1983. For contest guidelines and further details, please contact Amanda Dorman, Savannah Science Museum, 4405 Paulson Street, Savan nah 31405. Page 2 THE MARKET BULLETIN Wednesday, December 29, 1982 we