FARMERS & CONSUMERS Tommy /rvin, Commissioner Georgia Department of Agriculture Market Bulletin Vol. 73, No. 16 Let's Celebrate Our Constitution Freedom of choice, freedom from harm, freedom of speech, access to information and the opportunity for education these and other privileges are basic consumer rights. In the spirit of the Bicentennial of the United States Constitution, National Consumer Week is promoting the awareness of these basic freedoms developed by our founding fathers. The theme for 1987, "Consumers Celebrate the Constitution," focuses on the rights and freedoms consumers enjoy in the American marketplace. It also emphasizes the impor- Our guest columnist this week is Joyce Glover, president, Georgia Society of Consumer Affairs Professionals, P.O. Box 94565, #6 Executive Park Drive, Atlanta 30347.______________________ tant role of buyers in an economic system which is based on the freedom to produce and purchase. Corporate America and governmental entities are responsible for ensuring the rights of consumers and Georgia is no exception. For this reason the Georgia Society of Consumer Affairs Professionals (SOCAP) and the Georgia Department of Agriculture have joined to promote and highlight consumer rights during the observance planned for April 19-25. SOCAP and the Georgia Department of Agriculture, under the leadership of Commissioner Tommy Irvin, are sponsoring a consumer legislative workshop April 23, 9:30 a.m. - noon, in the Agriculture Building in Atlanta. This is the first workshop of its kind and the response from our elected officials has been overwhelming. Panel members will include: State Senators Arthur Langford, Jr., Atlanta; and Harold J. Ragan, Cairo; State Representatives Roger Byrd, Hazlehurst; John Godbee, Brooklet; W.G. "Bill" Hasty, ST., Canton; Diane Harvey Johnson, Savannah; Billy McKinney, Atlanta; Chesley Morton, Jr., Tucker; Dick Ransom, Augusta; Robert Ray, Fort (Continued on Page 12) Wednesday, April 22,1987 ag consumer line... EPA Grants Exemption for Peanut Herbicide Last year my tomatoes developed blossom end rot. What can I do to prevent this from happening again? Blossom end rot can be prevented by maintaining a pH of 6.06.5 and an adequate calcium level by liming the soil. Keep moisture levels fairly uniform (neither too wet nor too dry) and use a nitrate source of nitrogen. If this condition develops, it may be corrected by spraying tomatoes with calcium chloride twice weekly until it clears up. Add two ounces of calcium chloride to three gallons of water or two tablespoons to a gallon. **** I would like to raise a few chickens on my property, mostly to produce eggs and meat for my family. Do you have a pamphlet you can send me on starting a small operation? Yes, we do. You should receive it soon. **** Call Consumer Services toll-free at 1-800-282-5852, or in metro Atlanta, 656-3645, if you have questions or problems with products or services regulated by the Georgia Department of Agriculture. You may write Consumer Services at Room 227, Agriculture Building, Capitol Square, Atlanta, Georgia 30334. Georgia peanut farmers will be allowed to use the herbicide Gramoxone for weed control under emergency exemption granted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) last week. Commissioner of Agriculture Tommy Irvin requested the special exemption February 27 following EPA's suspension of the herbicide dinoseb which had been used to control Georgia peanut farmers have prospects of a good harvest this fall now that the EPA has granted an emergency exemption for the herbicide Gramoxone. Without use of the herbicide, farmers potentially could have lost over $138 million. Florida beggarweed and sicklepod weeds in peanuts. "After we learned of the dinoseb suspension, our Department worked very closely with the Georgia Crop Protection Committee of the Georgia Cooperative Extension Service in seeking a viable alternative for weed control for our peanut producers," Irvin noted. "There is extensive research data concerning the use of Gramoxone on peanuts in Georgia and the committee unanimously voted to apply for the Section 18 exemption." Gramoxone is a restricted use pesticide and can be sold only to licensed pesticide applicators. The supplemental labeling permits up to two applications for control of Florida beggarweed and/or sicklepod. Application should be made to peanuts after ground cracking when seedling weeds are present, but no later than 28 days after ground crack. Only ground equipment may be used to apply Gramoxone; aerial application is not approved. "Without the use of Gramoxone to control weeds, our peanut farmers potentially could have lost over $138 million," Irvin said. "We estimate the use of Gramoxone will reduce losses to $31 million, and while that still is a hard blow for farmers to take, it is far better than what it could have been." Mayhaws Considered Unique Ga. Delicacy The scrubby, thorny mayhaw tree is not known for its beauty, but the unique fruit it produces has been prized by country folks for generations. A member of the hawthorn family, the tree seldom reaches more than 25 feet in height and grows wild in the swamps and bogs of Southwest Georgia. "Most mayhaw trees can be found in a 'v-shaped' area between the Chattahoochee and Flint Rivers," noted Charles Bevis, Colquitt, Georgia resident. The mayhaw tree's claim to fame has been its tart, red berries, which eagerly are gathered each May after they fall to the boggy ground below. The fruit, which resembles a tiny apple, is boiled and squeezed to retrieve a clear, coral juice used to make such delicacies as jelly and wine. According to local connoisseurs, the products have a unique, tart flavor. The taste is delicious and unlike anything else they have ever experienced, although some jelly enthusiasts say it does remind them of recipes made with the guava fruit. Mayhaws once were considered one of the state's best kept secrets, but Miller County residents are working to change this. They have proclaimed their county and city of Colquitt the "Mayhaw Capital of the World," and are making preparations for the fourth annual Mayhaw Festival. Planned in Colquitt May 9, the event will feature arts and crafts, entertainment, a mayhaw cooking contest and, of course, plenty of mayhaw goodies. For further information on the Festival, call 912-758-2400. The Festival is not the only way local folks are capitalizing on this (Continued on Page 12) llltllillilllll^ iS-l-i'SiSSS^:-^^^^ ;$::|::::;:::-:::ife:;:i& Ililli ^^SMiSMMraWZ.;&:8i Page 2 THE MARKET BULLETIN Wednesday, April 22,1987 Farm employment If you have questions regarding this category, call Sonya Way 656-3727. No commercial, industrial or domestic employment permitted. Only that employment that pertains to the individual farm may be advertised. Want exp. horseman to exercise, etc. polo ponies, must drive gooseneck. B. Phillips, Newnan. Ph. 251-6026 eve. Mature exp., prof. QH farm mgr. wants gen. mgr. position, honor grad. equine science. Richard Grove, Ellijay. Pti. 404-273-3040. Want reliable dairy help, living qtrs. avail. Lee Whitaker, Harlem. Ph. 404-556-3531. Man w/family having farm & mech. exp. wants to caretake farm in Atlanta area, ref. provided. Dick Chattento, Forest Park. Ph. 968-0674. Lady w/teenage son wants any kind of farm work, milking, etc., need housing and salary. Lois Angstadt, Lavonla. Ph. 356-8930. Want energetic person w/income to caretake farm in exchange for living qtrs., Hart Co. L. Wish, 1081 Ragley Hall, Atlanta 30319. Want family to live on farm and do farm work, Paulding Co. Bill Spinks, P.O. Box 170, Marietta 30061. Ph. 424-7171 or 428-7622. Want indiv./couple w/social security income to work on hay farm, farm equip., exp. nee., free trailer space, salary nego., ref. req. Olin Trammell, Forsyth. Ph. 912-994-6463. Mature couple wants light farm work or caretaking in exhange for house & reas. salary. Onie Faulk, 2980 Decatur Avenue, Scottdale 30079. Ph. 292-0402. Want retired couple for farm caretakers position, furnished Irg. cottage plus salary & other benefits. Mr. Shepherd, Rt. 1, Box 36, McRae 31055 Want responsible person to work garden on shares. Thos Arrington, 680 Ridge Ave., Stone Mountain 30083. Ph. 469-9065. Couple w/1 child wants farm to caretake, improve, house on property preferred, exp. w/Arabians, QH, TB, ref. avail. A. Barton, Marietta. Ph. 434-9657. Lady wants retired person w/some income to help on sml. farm, mostly caring for cows in exchange for room & board. Adele Day, Rt. 1, Box 257, Stapleton. Ph. 798-6368. Want someone to help haul hay beginning in May, must be reliable and not afraid of work. Ernest Powell, Hampton. Ph. 946-9169. Position wanted on horse farm in exchange for board for 2 horses plus unfurnished apt., 30 mi. radius of Atlanta. M. Lanier, Atlanta. Ph. 404-237-3746. Want gen. farm help, exp. handling farm equip., house provided, prefer family, ref. req., Alfred White, Baxley. Ph.912-367-2788. 58 yr. old lady wants job doing light farm chores, no heavy lifting, can drive, need room, board & salary. Martha Hodge, 707 Third St., Eastman 31023. Want indivJcouple w/own income to do light gardening & chores, housing furnished. Viola Pittman, Oouglasvllle. Ph. 942-4461. Farm Services // you have questions regarding this category, call Ginny Reeves 656-3727. Advertisers should Include a statement with each notice indicating that the services offered are indeed "farm services" provided by that individual. Loader/dozer work, grading, clearing (sml. or Irg. tracts) ponds, Iks., etc. M. Fox, Canton. Ph. 887-7308________ Clearing, grading, site preparation, 943 Cat. front end loader, dump truck. Joe Brassfield. Smyrna. Ph. 432-4555. Will build farm fence in Crisp and surrounding cos., have sml. bulldozer. Dick Goetzman, P.O. Box 144, Arabl. Ph. 912-273-8892._______________ Will furnish sprigs and custom plant Tifton 44 & Coastal bermuda in 24" rows. Chester Kite, Tarrytown 30470. Ph. 912-529-390. Cattle weighing done w/portable Paul scales, max. wt. 4000 Ibs. D. Perry, Jefferson. Ph. 404-549-5663._______ Will do tractor work, Ford 1710 rototilling machine, bush hog, finish mower & seeding, reas. C. Tarpley, Duluth. Ph. 476-1045/3337._________________ 15 yrs. exp. in land clearing, grading, loading, specializing in tree preservation, care of your personal property, Cat 943 loader, will travel. Bill Butler, Suwanee. Ph. 404-476-0184.______ Farm fence, all types, post driven, free est. Paul Gann, Norcross. Ph. 449-1505/ 962-7545.____________________ Will do tractor work, bush hogging, plowing, cut and bale hay, combine grain, spread lime/ferti. in Carrollton area. W. Hackney, Roopvllle Ph. 404-854-4996._______________ Will build fence with wood, field or barbed wire, also pole barns, statewide serv. Robert Hayes, Hartwell. Ph. 404-376-6708._________________ Roto-till, aerate, seeding, ferti., bush hogging, plowing, tractor work done right in Forsyth, N. Fulton, Cherokee, Roswell, etc. Danny Bagley, Alpharetta. Ph. 475-9121.__________________ Horseshoeing, hunters, polo, dressage, western, corrective work. Richard Dunivant, Buford, Ph. 945-8502.______ Will till gardens, clear sml. areas, fences & ditches of vines and weeds, no bush hog, S. Atlanta area. Austin Moore, Atlanta. Ph. 767-2658._____________ Bush hogging, garden plowing, blade work, Rockdale & surrounding cos. Kelly Thomas, Conyers. Ph. 922-4418._____ Land & timber clearing, grading in Gwinnett, Hall, Forsyth, Barrow and surrounding cos. exp., reas. T. Cole, Puluth. Ph. 404-476-4644.__________ Will plant pine trees and do site preparation work in Ga. Frank Miller, Haielhurst. Ph. 912-375-5219.______ Horse transportation, 80