GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE TOMMY IRVIN,COMMISSIONER Vol. 8S, No. 17 Conditions Continue in Ga. Dry conditions have begun affecting fieldVvork and crops, according to the Georgia Agricultural Statistics Service. Recent rains were not sufficient to offset the state's moisture deficit. County Extension Officials rated 67 percent of the state's topsoil moisture to be short or very short. The dry conditions in Georgia were part of a drought that has appeared in the southeast. -Com planting continued despite the dry conditions. Com was 92 percent planted, over a week ahead of last year. Com continued to emerge faster than last year. Condition decreased as 12 percent of the crop was rated below fair. Wheat continued in fair to good condition, as it continued to outpace last year and the five-year average. Cotton planting continued, but the lack of moisture may slow further planting, as six percent was planted, mostly in fair condition. Peanut planting continued with 4 percent of the crop planted. The onion condition remained good. Harvest was behind last year and the fiveyear average. Peach condition continued to be good, but some varieties have had (Continued on Page 11) Hobby Beekeeping Helps Georgia Farms, Gardens Georgia's wild bee population has been all but wiped out by parasites, but a resurgence in hobby beekeeping is helping bees, gardeners and farmers alike, according to Keith Delaplane, a University of Georgia Extension Service entomologist. "There's no doubt there's a limit in bee pollination in Georgia," he said. "That's the big problem for home gardeners. Most gardeners and farmers will tell you they don't see the bees they used to. Many aren't seeing the yields they used to, either." Since the 1980s, Georgia's wild bee population has been under attack by tracheal mites and varroa mites that have decimated the population. New threats are still emerging. "The future for our wild bee population is pretty grim," Delaplane said. "You always find new colonies because beekeepers' colonies split and swarm. But they can no longer selfsustain." Once the bees split from the beekeeper, they survive only about a year (Continued on Page 11) Vwtmd Htui Wednesday April 28, 1999 Copyright 1999 Ag Chief Investigating Alleged Pesticide Misuse Georgia Commissioner of Agriculture Tommy Irvin announced last week that he has launched an investigation into the alleged misuse of a now-banned pesticide on land used for hay production in Madison County to confimi reports that allege certain Madison County hay producers may have used the chemical toxaphene on hay fields before harvesting and selling the hay to area livestock producers. Several cows and horses in the area have reportedly died from consuming hay treated with toxaphene. "This chemical is highly toxic, and we're trying to find out now several things: how much toxaphene was used, if any; how many farmers bought the hay in question, and how much hay was purchased; and how many horses and cows died as a result," Irvin said. "If we find that pesticide misuse led to the death of valuable horses and livestock, then I'll see that those responsible are prosecuted." The allegedly misused chemical, toxaphene, was banned from sale and use in agricultural production by the federal government in December of 1986. Toxaphene is a chemical similar in structure to DDT; neither chemicals break down naturally in the environment and both are considered deadly. Irvin stressed that the investigation has revealed there currently is no threat to human health from the alleged misuse. The Georgia Department of Agriculture can be reached by phone toll-free in Georgia at 1-800-282-5852. Outside of Georgia, call 404-656-3645. State Blocking Sale of Premature Onions Georgia Commissioner of Agriculture Tommy Irvin announced last week that the Georgia Department of Agriculture has placed Vidalia onions from at least two growers under "withhold-from-sale" orders because they failed to meet standards set by the 1999 Georgia Vidalia Onion Marketing Order. Onions from two other growers are also being withheld due to suspicion of being premature but are awaiting official inspection. Commissioner Irvin also had directed state inspectors to watch last weekend for more onions that fail these requirements due to being harvested prematurely. Two weeks ago the Vidalia Onion Committee requested Irvin to use his authority under the state food laws to stop the sale of all onions deemed to be immature and that fail inspections. The request came amid reports that some growers were planning to harvest their onions early to get to the market ahead of the competition. "Growers who harvest premature onions can severely harm the good name of Vidahas by attaching it to an inferior product," said Irvin. By issuing a "withhold-from-sale" order, the Georgia Department of Agriculture can block the marketing of substandard Vidalia onions. Fa on Service Agency (r'SA) Adminixtralor Keith Kelly has announced the publication of new regulations to make it possible for some farmers who suffer fosses to valuable seed crops- to apply lor assistance ondei the Commodity Credit Corporation's (CCC) noniittuited etop disaster assistance proytum (NAP). which is admtntstered i>\ 1 SA. Undet the new rule, crops such as onions (>f carrots giown for use as seed nm be considered separate dtgtbfe crops under NAP ti cettam criteria are tmt. The changes apply onh to production that can la- used tor no purpose other than seed. "Untc lakes care ol a small but important hole in the farm saiety net" sard Kelly. '.Seed crops may !>e sniai) tri volume, but they ran he extremely uifudhlc nttd eostfy to etdmate Previously, it a huge eiop grown for loud (such as carrots s was Inn vested, and later the production ol eat rots grown for seed was damaged, seed growers who suffered substantial losses' might not he found eligible lor assistance This occumsd because the two intended uses of the crop were combined us one crop lot the pm pose of determining eligibility." lb implement these change^ as quickly as possible, they have been published as an intenm rule effect we on the date of publication Before publishing the Final mk't F-SA will consider all comments received within 60 days of fhe date of publication Boer Goats in Georgia Prove Profitable Don't call them "Billys" - with pedigrees as extensive as those of the pure-bred Boer goats roaming Dick and Cheryl Williams' Warren County farm you might want to consider using "William" instead. Boer goats, a large meat goat that was introduced in the U.S. in 1993, are proving to be a profitable livestock alternative for Georgia farmers. Just ask the Williams', who breed Boers for producers in Georgia and across the Southeast. "It's an investment," said Dick Williams, whose part-time breeding operation is both a hobby and business. Williams said pure-bred male Boer goats, which originally came into the U.S. from South Africa, Austraha and New Zealand, are worth as much as $500 at their (Continued on Page 11) Boer goats like these on Dick and Cheryl Williams' farm in Warren County are proving to be one of the more profitable forms of livestock produced today in Georgia.