Secondary
Organizations
Centers
CAES
Working Groups
Laboratories
Teams
Centers
Center
for Agribusiness and Economic Development (CAED)
John McKissick, Coordinator
The Center
for Agribusiness and Economic Development is a unit of the College
of Agricultural
and Environmental Sciences, combining the missions of research
and extension to improve understanding, operating efficiency,
and profitability
of Georgia’s agricultural and agribusiness sectors. The Center
has among its mission: 1) to conduct research on short-term, rapid
response, applied projects of interest and concern to agricultural
groups within the State and widely disseminate the results of that
research, 2) to analyze and report on the economic impact on the
state economy of Georgia agriculture as a whole and in various
segments,
of agribusiness (value- added and food processing industries),
and of rural economic developments, and 3) to conduct economic
feasibility
studies of new emerging or value-added agribusiness opportunities
in the State of Georgia. The Center issues press reports and irregular
reports on one-time or unusual items of importance to Georgia agriculture
and agribusiness, such as crop damage, economic impact briefs on
various industry segments, or proposed legislation.
Center
for Food Safety (CFS)
Mike Doyle,
Director
The CFS was
established to assist the food industry in enhancing the safety
and quality
of foods. Programs address the most important issues in food safety,
i.e., microbiological concerns. Research is focused on the ecology,
detection, control and elimination of foodborne pathogens. The
Center
has strong collaborative ties with the U.S. Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and
other research groups within the University of Georgia in addressing
these issues. It houses several of the leading food microbiology
programs in the U.S. and has support of many foremost U.S. food
companies. The center’s state of the art laboratories are
among the best in the country due to a recent expansion in the
facilities.
Center
for Soybean Improvement (CSI)
Roger Boerma, Coordinator
The CSI promotes interdisciplinary
and inter-university collaboration among scientists and support
staff interested in soybean research and education. The CSI facilitates
research that will result in the development of superior yielding,
drought tolerant, and multiple pest resistant cultivars and improved
management systems. Research will also address the development of
cultivars with unique combinations of value-added traits and new
technologies to improve the efficiency of cultivar development.
The CSI hosts an annual workshop to encourage the development of
interdisciplinary and inter-university programs and enhance the
skills of its members.
Tifton
Bull Evaluation Center
Johnny Rossi,
Extension Beef Specialist
The Tifton Bull Evaluation
Center has been performance testing bulls since 1958. The current
center is located in Irwinville and was built in 1995. Approximately
225 bulls are tested each year. The goal of the bull test is to
provide information for a complete evaluation of each bull. The
consignors benefit by documenting herd genetics and are better prepared
to make changes to improve their seedstock. The buyers benefit from
having herd sires with predictability. Bulls are fed a high grain
diet in self-feeders and evaluated for gain over a 112 day period.
In addition to performance data, bulls are evaluated for hip height,
fat thickness, ribeye area, intramuscular fat, scrotal circumference,
birth weight, weaning weight, yearling weight, and Expected Progeny
Differences. The top two-thirds of bulls based on test average daily
gain and weight per day of age in each breed are eligible for the
sale. The center consists of two 24 acre modules with each divided
into eight pens. The center has a full-time manager and two part-time
workers. The sale is always held on the first Wednesday in March.
In 1999, the HERD (Heifer
Evaluation and Reproductive Development) Program was started. Fall-born
heifers are delivered to the center in early October and fed a hay-based
diet to reach their optimal breeding weight on January 1. Heifers
are evaluated for pelvic area, reproductive tract maturity, disposition,
frame size, weight gain, and muscle thickness. Heifers are synchronized
and artificially inseminated to a calving ease bull for two heat
cycles. Clean-up bulls are then put with the heifers for 35 days.
Any heifer determined to be pregnant is eligible for the sale. Consignors
have the option to put the heifers in the sale or take the heifers
home. Capacity is approximately 225 heifers. A unique aspect of
the program is the involvement of county extension agents. They
are involved in all planning decisions and do a large part of the
data collection. The program has been very successful and has been
a blueprint for heifer development that many cattle producers have
implemented on their own farms.
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CAES
Working Groups
Agricultural
Water Use
Dan Thomas, Coordinator
This working
group is involved in a variety of different projects and tasks
which have
the primary purpose of understanding and improving agricultural
water resources use from a quantity perspective. Different projects
currently underway include: Ag. Water Pumping (agricultural Water:
Potential Use and Management Program in Georgia), which is five
year program to develop a system to improve our understanding
of
current and future agricultural water use through monitoring and
modeling (extrapolating). Under the “umbrella” of Ag.
Water Pumping are several projects looking at: improving the
agricultural
water permit database managed by Georgia Department of Natural
Resources(DNR), Environmental Protection Division (EPD); understanding
the relationship
between permitted and actual water withdrawals and land areas associated
with irrigated agricultural; and an intensive automated monitoring
system for water use in Sub Area 4 (Lower Flint River Basin).
In
addition to the above are programs to expand on water use practices
across the Southeast region, encouragement of conservation initiatives,
understanding the risk and economic impacts of water use and
water
restrictions, evaluation of animal water use throughout Georgia,
evaluation and development of improved irrigation practices through
the Stripling Irrigation Research Park.
Bioconversion
Research and Education Center
K.C. Das, Coordinator
The program developed
in 1996 supports broader state efforts in reducing and reusing industrial,
municipal and agricultural wastes. Current work addresses 1) solid
wastes (by-products) and 2) air quality issues in Georgia. The work
involves developing processes that convert by-products to value-added
products, thus diverting them from landfills towards beneficial
reuse. research activities include development of new processes,
cost reduction and process optimization and ensuring environmental
safety of products. Program personnel are involved in three areas:
Research, Demonstration, and Outreach (technical assistance and
educational training). Examples of work ongoing or recently completed
are:
Solid Waste Treatment
- Developing a composting
process for poultry processing and hatchery by-products.
- Fermentation/industrial
waste biosolids composting - for industrial partners in Georgia.
- Composting mixed vegetable
wastes generated at food processing facilities.
- Characterization of
nutrient runoff from composting under different rainfall conditions.
Air Pollution Control
- Developing a lost-cost
amendment (wood and coal ash) for odor reduction in poultry, hog,
and other waste management
- Charaterization
of odor and VOC releases from Georgia’s rendering industry.
- Development of air
pollution control options for rendering (scrubbers and biofilters)
Recent Technology-Transfer
in Rural Georgia
- Bioconversion feasibility
student - process design for Clay, Randolph and Quitman counties.
- Establishment of biosolids-yard
waste-cotton gin trash composting in Coffee county, Georgia.
- Redbud Farm - land
application demonstration and research using Georgia agriculture
and industry by-products.
For more information,
please see http://www.engr.uga.edu/research/groups/bioconversionresearch/.
Canola
and Speciality Oilseeds Committee
Randy Hudson, John Woodruff, Coordinators
Georgia producers can
grow canola more competitively than any other area of the world.
Production of canola and other minor oilseed crops are limited by
processing and manufacturing facilities. The minor oilseeds project
has been directed toward developing a marketing and commercialization
proposal for these crops. Efforts have been directed toward identifying
markets, developing processing facilities information, and structuring
potential financial arrangements. Federal, state and local business
leaders and are partners with this effort. Economic analysis indicates
a very high potential for profitability for the processing and sales
of canola and other minor oilseed. Estimated farm gate value to
growers involved in the project could exceed $500 million annually.
Center
for Applied Nursery Research (CANR)
Jim Midcap, Coordinator
The Center
for Applied Nursery Research was initiated in 1997 with the purpose
to promote
and conduct applied research relative to the nursery industry.
CANR provides outside funds, research facilities and technical
help to
achieve these goals. In 1998 CANR awarded $27,000 to University
of Georgia scientists in horticulture, plant pathology, entomology
and agricultural and applied economics. In 1999, $36,500 was
awarded
to support 21 applied research projects and $26,000 supported 22
projects in 2000. Support is being extended to researchers at
North
Carolina State University, Auburn University, University of Florida,
and Clemson University. Funds to support these projects come
from
industry donations and grants from allied industries. The Center
was initiated by McCorkle Nurseries in Dearing, Georgia in cooperation
with the Horticulture Department. For more information, visit
the
center’s website at www.canr.org.
Center
for Land Utilization of By Products (CLUB)
Bill Tollner, Coordinator
The mission of the Center
for Land Utilization of Byproducts (CLUB) is to promote collaboration
and to facilitate interdisciplinary research and outreach activities
toward environmentally safe and profitable utilization of animal
manures and bioconverted plant, livestock, pulp and paper, municipal
and industrial waste byproducts through land application. CLUB will
promote collaboration and communication between researchers, extension
personnel, and teaching faculty working toward sustainable agricultural
and silvicultural development approaches involving byproduct utilization.
CLUB will also promote communication between Center members and
clientele such as agricultural producers, forest managers, industrial
managers, municipal and commercial operators, consultants, and state
and federal regulatory officials. Areas of emphasis will include
bioconversion (e.g., composting and related processes) of plant,
livestock, municipal and industrial waste byproducts, quality and
contaminant analysis of byproducts, optimal mixing of byproducts,
and economic analysis. Specific CLUB goals are to: 1) identify
knowledge and technology gaps limiting adoption of strategies for
bio-conversion and direct application to land; 2) facilitate discovery,
development and education by focused training and demonstration
needed to fill those gaps; 3) provide rapid responses needed for
fostering and enhancing traditional agricultural and forestry enterprises
facing environmental problems where application of manures and byproducts
to land is relevant; and, 4) stimulate the development of rural
Georgia by providing a basis for new byproducts-based industries
coupled with solving waste problems of traditional industries.
Center
for Research on Environment and Milk Yield (CREMY)
Joe West, Coordinator
The Center for Research
on Environmental and Milk Yield (CREMY) was completed and occupied
in November, 1998. This state-of-the-art dairy production and research
facility will accommodate 256 lactating dairy cows. When the facility
is populated it will provided the cows and facilities needed to
conduct the production and waste management research necessary to
help the Georgia dairy farmer remain competitive and compliant to
regulations in a rapidly changing dairy industry. Drs. Joe West
and John Bernard conduct nutritional and management research in
the areas of heat stress , forage utilization, electrolyte nutrition,
and by-product feeding to improve performance of cows and economic
returns of the dairy. Dr. Bill Graves brings applied reproductive
management to the center. Dr. Larry Newton works in nutrient management
of dairy manure to improve nutrient utilization for crop production
and minimize the potential for pollution of the environment. Cooperators
include forage agronomists, agricultural engineers, and soil scientists.
The dairy center frequently hosts field days, training, and tours.
Consortium
for Global Agricultural Competitiveness (CGAC)
Ed Kanemasu, Coordinator
The Consortium
for Agricultural Competitiveness combines the resource and expertise
of the Georgia
Department of Agriculture, The University of Georgia, agribusiness,
and producers to define and address constraints to the international
marketing and trade of Georgia agricultural products. The Consortium
increases Georgia’s participation in the global economy
through research, education, and communication of the economic,
political,
and scientific aspects of international marketing and trade.
Specific objectives of
the Consortium include:
- Internationalize education
within the CAES;
- Identify specific
constraints and opportunities associated with international trade
and marketing in collaboration with the Georgia Department of
Agriculture;
- Apply existing research
findings to specific issues and problems impeding export through
educational activities;
- Identify and procure
funding to support an international research and education agenda.
These objectives
will be achieved through research and educational activities,
in collaboration
with the Georgia Department of Agriculture and with the guidance
and involvement of the Consortium’s International Advisory
Committee.
For more information,
please see http://www.uga.edu/Proposal.html.
Cotton
Workgroup
Steve M. Brown, Coordinator
The UGA Cotton Workgroup
consists of research and extension faculty, experiment station personnel,
a few county agents, and members of the Georgia Cotton Commission.
We discuss and develop priorities for research and educational programs
related to cotton within the College. We meet at least once a year
to report on current research projects and problems in cotton and
annually publish a written report of our findings.
Environmental
Resources Assessment Group (ERAG)
John Bergstrom, Coordinator
Natural resource allocation
and management can be facilitated through improved concepts, theory,
and methods for resource assessment and policy analysis. Meeting
these research needs is the purpose of the Environmental Resources
Assessment Group (ERAG), a partnership between the U.S. Department
of Agriculture, Forest Service, Southern Research Station and The
University of Georgia, College of Agriculture and Environmental
Sciences, Department of Agriculture and Applied Economics. Through
cooperative research, ERAG co-directed by Dr. John C. Bergstrom
(UGA) and Dr. H. Ken Cordell (USDA), develops and applies improved
concepts, theories and methods for assessing state and national
use and management of natural resources; conducts reseach-related
educational activities; disseminates research results; and cooperates
with interested individuals, policy-makers, agencies, private firms,
and others to address specific natural resource and environmental
issues and problems.
Forages
Workgroup
Al Smith, Coordinator
The forage workgroup
has not been active as a working group in the past several years.
The forage researchers have been working independently over the
years. However, there is presently an open position for a Forage
Specialist. When the specialist is contracted, this workgroup will
become more active since it recognizes the importance of forages
to clientele in the state of Georgia. Most of the workgroups are
dependent on the Commodity Specialists for direction and energy.
Georgia
Center for Urban Agriculture (GCUA)
Wayne Gardner, Coordinator
The Georgia Center for
Urban Agriculture was established by the College of Agricultural
and Environmental Sciences in 1998. Its mission is to combine the
resources and expertise of Georgia producers and agribusinesses,
public and commercial consumer groups, and the University of Georgia
to define and address constraints to the economic growth of urban
agribusiness, to promote environmental stewardship, and to enhance
the development and delivery of science-based urban agricultural
information. To this end, the Center is continually assessing the
economic impact and future prospects for urban agricultural industries
in the state, providing for training and educational opportunities
for consumers and urban agricultural professionals, and improving
delivery of unbiased, science-based information on urban agricultural
issues.
Georgia
Envirotron
Keith Ingram, Coordinator
The Georgia Envirotron
is a controlled environment research facility dedicated to multidisciplinary
research on how multiple stresses affect plant growth, productivity,
and quality. The Environtron is located at the Dempsey Farm in Griffin.
Facilities of the Envirotron include:
- Nine indoor growth
chambers with capacity to control light up to three-fourths of
full sunlight, temperature, humidity, and carbon dioxide.
- Eight greenhouses
with evaporative cooling, gas heaters, and lighting for daylength
extension.
- Three movable sunlit
chambers with capacity to control temperature, humidity, and carbon
dioxide.
The Envirotron is available
to researchers from all campuses, and has also attracted several
international visiting scientists. A multi disciplinary committee
sets research priorities for and guides development of the Envirotron.
Kenaf
Working Group
David Kissel, Coordinator
The Kenaf Working Group
began in 1993 to determine the technical and economic feasibility
of growing and processing kenaf in the state of Georgia. Kenaf (Hibiscus
cannabinus L.) is an annual, nonwood fiber plant native to east-central
Africa with potential for the manufacture of pulp, paper, and other
fiber products. Ankal, Inc., Southeastern Kenaf, Inc., and the Herty
Foundation have been partners in the project. Work by UGA faculty
has focused on the growing of kenaf, including costs of production,
fertilizer needs, control of its primary pest, root knot nematodes,
selection of the most promising growing areas, variety evaluation,
harvesting and storage. Additional studies have been carried out
on fiber separation and the evaluation of potential kenaf products.
National
Center for Peanut Competitiveness (NCPC)
Stanley Fletcher, Coordinator
The focus of this Center
is the establishment of a broad-based research program directed
toward assuring the competitiveness of U.S. peanuts. This program
can be viewed as a triad of product development, economics and production
focused on the reduction of production costs, enhancement of the
desirability to consumers and improvement of product safety. Research
involves all disciplines, institutions and segments of the industry.
This Center is a center without walls where all funds are directed
towards research. Currently, research and extension personnel from
Alabama, Florida And Georgia are involved with Center activities.
The objectives of the
Center are as follows:
- To determine the economic
efficiency of current and potential peanut production practices
and to assess these alternatives in improving the global competitiveness
of U.S. peanut production.
- To determine methods
of reducing risk to pest, weed and disease problems and climatic
extremes that would enhance the competitiveness and environmental
stewardship of U.S. peanut production.
- To develop and optimize
technologies to produce nutritionally improved and novel peanut
products in order to enhance desirability to consumers.
National/International
Livestock Genetic Evaluation
Keith Bertrand, Coordinator
The goals of the National/International
Livestock Genetic Evaluation Workgroup are:
- To conduct research
that will lead to improvements in prediction models and computational
procedures used in the genetic evaluation of beef cattle, dairy
cattle and swine
- To assist the beef
cattle, dairy cattle and swine industries in the implementation
of genetic evaluation programs on both a national and international
basis.
- To provide the beef
cattle, dairy cattle and swine industry with technical information
to assist producers with selection and marketing decisions.
Ornamentals
Working Group
Marc van Iersel, Coordinator
The purpose of the Ornamentals
Working Group is to provide a team approach to solving problems
for the ornamental plant industry, especially those prevalent in
the humid southeast. Currently, there is cooperative expertise in
horticulture, entomology, plant pathology, agricultural engineering,
and agricultural economics. In order to address industry problems,
we have direct industry contacts in the areas of plug production,
media formulation, chemical evaluation, spray application methods,
landscape/lawn maintenance, as well as specific projects on insect
pest management with several local growers. The working group is
open to all professionals interested in using a team approach to
address ornamental industry problems. The working group has established
the following goals in developing team research programs:
- Create Environmentally
Sound Management Practices
Research in this area includes reducing chemical usage by development
of alternative methods of pest control, more efficient usage of
chemicals, compatibility of alternative pest management strategies
with other horticultural practices, and disposal and recycling
of solid and liquid waste.
- Maximize Plant
Quality and/or Adaptability for the Needs of the End Users
Research areas include selecting and breeding plants that are
adaptable to specific environments. Issues addressed include:
reliance on chemicals, plant adaptability, cold hardiness, water
use, environmental impact and modification of plant production
practices to maximize plant quality for specific end users.
- Improve Technical
and Economic Efficiency of Commercial Ornamental Plant Production
and Marketing
Areas of research involve development of alternative application
systems to reduce chemical usage or human exposure while increasing
reliability of coverage and efficacy and analysis of consumer
preferences including the perception of quality in making purchasing
decisions.
- Communication of
Research-Based Recommendations to the Industry
The Working Group includes extension specialists to transfer research
results into commercial production practices. The Georgia Station
Research and Education Garden is being developed to showcase ongoing
research and results for the benefit of industry for the benefit
of industry, homeowners, and students interested in ornamentals.
- Facilitate Information
Exchange Among Members
An e-mail list has been set up to facilitate communications among
members of the Ornamentals Working Group. This list is used for
discussion of ongoing research projects, the development of new
projects, and to disseminate information of interest to the members
of the Ornamentals Working Group. Individuals who have to join
this e-mail list should contact Marc Van Iersel.
Small
Grains Working Groups
Jerry Johnson, Coordinator
Small grains
(wheat, rye, oats, barley, and triticale) are important commodities
in Georgia
for use as both a grain and forage. Small grains are grown annually
on about 600,000 acres in Georgia. Small grain’s contribution
to Georgia farm gate crop value is about 2% for wheat and overall
value of grain, forage and straw about 4%.
The Small grain working
group consists of researchers and extension specialists working
cooperatively for the improvement of small grains. The major areas
of collaborative research includes the improvement of small grains
in breeding new cultivar for both grain and forage production, pest
(diseases, insects and weeds) management and production practices.
UGA
Corn Research and Extension Workgroup
Dewey Lee, Coordinator
This workgroup
includes approximately 27 scientists that have interest in or
conduct a portion
of their research or extension programming on corn in Georgia.
This group of scientist believes that it is important to work
and meet
together as a formal workgroup to demonstrate a commitment towards
meeting the needs of Georgia’s corn growers and leverage
their support by combining efforts whenever possible.
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Laboratories
Food
Process Research and Development Laboratory
Romeo Toledo, Coordinator
The Laboratory was established
to develop an infrastructure of pilot plant and research laboratories
and a core of scientists to assist the Georgia food processing industry
to be competitive nationally and internationally. The Food Process
Research and Development Laboratory (FPRDL) members carry out cooperative
projects with industry to solve specific problems, and conduct research
in alliance with industry groups to solve common problems in the
industry. The FPRDL also assists entrepreneurs in product formulation,
makes product prototypes, provides advise on regulatory constraints
regarding processing of food products for commercial purposes, and
assists with environmentally related problems. Nutritional labels
and processing plant layout services are also done. The FPRDL operates
on fees generate with the use of the facility by industry. FPRDL
members can use the pilot facility for research at no cost except
for supplies and equipment repair if applicable.
National
Environmentally Sound Production Agriculture (NESPAL)
Craig Kvien, Coordinator
The National Environmentally
Sound Production Agriculture Laboratory (NESPAL), is an interdisciplinary
research effort aimed at building a better environment for agriculture
and rural America. We are a unit of the University of Georgia s
College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences and are located
at the Tifton, Georgia campus. Since its inception, NESPAL has aimed
its research toward the discovery and implementation of better ways
to manage agricultural resources from both an economic and environmental
perspective. What we ve learned is that the process of research
is the creative utilization of interdependent resources. Individual
effort alone does not ensure the success of research. It must be
a partnership of the environment, land owners, community, educators,
and business leaders.
For example, the creation
of a tool that increases yields is not a successful end result for
research, if the tool is not used. We must consider questions such
as:
- Who is going to make
the tool?
- Will the price and
complexity of the tool outweigh the benefits of the tool?
- How does the tool
impact the environment?
- How do you use the
tool, and are there other markets for it?
To answer
these questions, we need information on agriculture, business,
economics, the environment,
and education. We do not have all the answers, nor should we attempt
to have all the answers. The best use of our resources is to
partner
with those who do. We see NESPAL as an example for what all research
institutions should strive to be—partnerships between interdependent
resources. Partnerships require involvement, and a mutual give
and
receive attitude. The best measures of success for NESPAL have
been its impact, increased funding, the diversity of its outside
sources
of income, number of successful joint ventures, acceptance from
the community, publications, recognition, partnership approval
rating
and its growth.
We have structured
NESPAL to approach each effort with success as the end result.
Projects
are team-based and formed to address bigger picture issues involving
natural and human resources and the use of purchased inputs and
byproducts. The teams are generally successful in gaining external
funding because of their long-term focus and track records. At
the
core of each team is a group of researchers who have in-depth knowledge
of the necessary agricultural specialties. Business partners,
community
development specialists, other educators and end users fill out
these teams to insure proper focus and speed development. NESPAL
hosts personnel from other units and institutions including Emerging
Crops & Technology Center,
the Carl Vinson Institute of Government, and has a strong partnership
with USDA/ARS.
To further
aid implementation, NESPAL, in partnership with the Tifton Development
Authority, the
Georgia Research Alliance and OneGeorgia, has established a Technology
Development Center focused on commercialization of the many R&D
activities of the University of Georgia Tifton Campus. To help
prepare
the human resources needed to take advantage of the opportunities
ahead, and to further help rural communities develop, NESPAL
hosts
a campus-wide K-12 science outreach program.
While difficult to categorize,
most NESPAL research and development programs would fall under the
general themes of:
- Biotechnology and
plant breeding with particular emphasis on improving the plants
abilities to resist the environmental and biological stresses
of the Southeastern US.
- Native plants and
well-adapted plants for use in landscaping and as cut foliage.
- Precision agriculture
technologies to more efficiently manage and use natural resources,
purchased inputs and human talent.
- Sustainable agricultural
systems using agricultural byproducts as resources and better
understanding and enhancing the strengths of natural systems.
- Water quality and
water use projects aimed at developing agricultural systems to
more efficiently use water resources, Geographic Information Systems
for improved watershed management and planning, and using riparian
buffer systems to protect surface water quality.
Our guiding principle
in projects is commitment to the goals before seeking funding. We
must invest in the project, before asking others to.
Postharvest
Active Learning Laboratory
Stan Prussia, Coordinator
The Postharvest Active
Learning Laboratory (PAL LAB) was initiated to help growers and
postharvest businesses reduce losses and to improve the quality
of fresh fruits and vegetables for consumers. Workshops and consulting
projects arranged though the PAL LAB are based on a systems approach.
Each business is viewed
as a link in a chain for delivering fresh produce from the grower
to the consumer. Likewise, information and money flow from the consumer
to the grower through retailers, distributers, transporters, packers,
and other links. Changes in any one of the POSTHARVEST links have
an impact on other links.
ACTIVE LEARNING (hands-on)
approaches are used at workshops for providing participants with
practical knowledge of postharvest technologies (maturity indices,
cooling methods, quality measurements, sorting, grading, packaging,
cold chains, refrigerated transport, ripening procedures, storage
environments, and other unit operations.).
Workshops are also arranged
where participants learn Total Quality Management, ISO 9000, Soft
Systems Methodologies, system simulation, and other management tools.
Consulting projects are based on a systems approach, appropriate
postharvest technologies, and relevant management tools.
The PAL LAB is coordinated
from the Biological and Agricultural Engineering department at the
Griffin Campus where laboratory-scale equipment enables the physical
simulation of major postharvest operations. Multi-disciplinary teams
are assembled as needed for specific workshops or consulting projects
conducted at UGA facilities or at client locations.
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Teams
Animal
Waste Awareness in Research and Extension
Mark Risse, Coordinator
The Animal
Waste Awareness in Research and Extension (AWARE) Team was formed
in the summer
of 1995. The concept for an Aware Team is to use the commodity
team approach, such as the successful Cotton and Peanut teams
at the
University of Georgia, to address animal waste management issues.
The team serves as both a pro-active and reactive source of unbiased
animal waste information for the State of Georgia. Since its
formulation,
the AWARE team has developed number of educational tools, conducted
numerous events, and had a profound impact on Georgia Livestock
Production Industry. It uses Extension methods that not only
come
from a wide variety of disciplines, but that also use many different
methods to communicate, inform, and teach those interested in
Animal
Waste Management issues. The overall objective of the AWARE Team
is: “To facilitate awareness of animal waste issues to research
scientists, Extension personnel, industry representatives, and producers
and o serve as a catalyst for providing economically and environmentally
sound waste utilization solutions to Georgia’s animal production
industry.” The team does not have any formal structure or
funding, yet, this had not impaired its ability to get things done.
As the
team had evolved, it has used semi-annual planning meetings to
determine its agenda and various team members have taken on the
responsibility
of providing leadership for different activities. Funding has come
from a wide variety of grant requests and the operating budgets
of various team members. As with the program activities, the teaching
methods the AWARE uses are very diverse. Not only is this caused
by the diverse nature of the audience which ranges from agents
and
producers to legislators and research scientists, but also by the
fact that the information must flow in two directions. Some of
the
methods we use are a quarterly newsletter that is distributed to
a mailing list of all the county agents and over 300 other individuals,
workshops and field days, a Web page at http://www.engr.uga.edu/service/extension/aware/,
and an electronic listserv.
CAES
Online Group
Don Hamilton and Barry Jones, Coordinators
The College
of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences College Online Group
(COG) was formed
to coordinate production and provide infrastructure support for
the College’s overarching, multi-disciplinary Web initiatives.
This group also provides consultation for independent Web development
efforts associated with the College. The College Online Group is
a collaborative teach with personnel from Education, Communication,
and Technology (ECT) contributing content and graphic design expertise
and Office of Information Technology (OIT) staff addressing technical
issues. COG is responsible for such projects as the “CAES Personnel
Database,” “Drought in Georgia,” the “CAES Master
Calendar,” “Biotechnology’s Role in Agriculture,”
“CAES News Center,” and the timely “West Nile Virus” site.
CAES
Turf Team
Clint Waltz, Coordinator
The Turf
Team is a multidisciplinary group made up of research scientists,
teaching faculty and extension specialists in the
College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences whose mission is to
provide leadership in research, teaching and extension programs
related to turfgrass management. Members come from the departments of
Agricultural and Applied Economics, Biological and Agricultural
Engineering, Crop and Soil Sciences, Entomology and Plant Pathology.
Georgia's team is among the top teams in the country and
has earned a national and international reputation for excellence
in turf programs.
The Turf Team
has a Web site at: www.GeorgiaTurf.com.
Additional publications about the team are available
through the Department of
Crop and Soil Sciences.
Environmental
Education Team
Diane Davies, Coordinator
The Environmental Education
Team works to deliver the best 4-H Environmental Education Program
possible to the school audience it serves. The program networks
with a wide variety of departments both on and off campus and agencies
to strengthen the educational resources and instruction for visiting
school children and teachers participating in the 4-H Environmental
Education Program.
Georgia
Environmental Partnership
Tom Adams, Coordinator
The Georgia
Environmental Partnership (GEP) was created in 1996 and consists
of the Pollution
Prevention Assistance Division (P2AD) of the Department of Natural
Resources, the Economic Development Institute (EDI) at the Georgia
Institute of Technology, and the Department of Biological and
Agricultural
Engineering (BAE) at the University of Georgia. Goals of the GEP
are to achieve both environmental excellence and sustainable
development
in the State of Georgia by: (1) enhancing the competitiveness of
Georgia’s businesses through the use of sustainable practices,
including environmental management systems, pollution prevention,
material recycling and reuse, and efficient use of resources;
and
(2) fostering market development for waste by-products and emerging
environmental technologies.
Georgia
Precision Agriculture Team
Craig Kvien and George Vellidis, Coordinators
- Tifton: T. Wells, G.
Vellidis, T. Vellidis, D. Thomas, J Ruter, G. Rains, S. Pocknee,
C. Perry, C. Kvien, L. Forlow, V. Garrick, J. Hook, R. Hill, K.
Harrison, J. Durrence, D. Dales, A. Carter, D. Betts
- Athens: L. West, L.
Usery, C. Thai, D. Kissel, T. K. Hamrita, M.. Evans, R. Clark
- W. Atkins Farm Cooperators:
T. Smith, M. Newberry, Ernie Iler, B. Brim, J. Boddiford, M. Blitch,
J.L. Adams, P. Atkins
- Farm Supply Cooperators:
Boddiford Farm Supply, Lenox Ag Supply.
- NASA Cooperators: GHCC-
Huntsville and Stennis Commercial Remote Sensing Center.
- Auburn Cooperators :
Paul Mask and J.M. Wersinger.
- Research Supported,
in part by: The Georgia Research Alliance, Georgia Environmental
Technology Consortium, State and Federal Experiment Station appropriations,
the Georgia Cotton Commission, Cotton Incorporated, the Georgia
Peanut Commission, the American Peanut Foundation, the National
Center for IPM, US EPA, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources
and NASA through the Georgia and Alabama Space Grant program.
- Goals: To improve resource
use, enhance productivity and environmental stewardship through
the development and use of appropriate site-specific technologies.
Precision Agriculture holds great promise, but it is going to take
a concerted effort by all to make today’s technologies into
the “transparent” tools of tomorrow. One of the biggest
challenges we face is retention of talented young people in our
rural communities. Our team works closely with industry and farmers
to expedite the development of precision agriculture technologies.
To speed information transfer we have enhanced the precision agriculture
section of the NESPAL web site with a new web-based learning program
at http://nespal.cpes.peachnet.edu/pa.
- General conclusions
from experiences to date: Improved understanding of the resource
will lead to better management of it. Precision Ag tools can be
used to make small efficiency gains in many areas. Simple color
images taken from a low flying plane are great management enhancement
tools.
Rural
Air Quality
John Worley, Coordinator
The Rural Air Quality
Team is a group of research, extension, and outreach personnel that
are working to address air quality concerns in rural Georgia by
finding solutions and disseminating information. Air quality concerns
include odors, particulates, and potentially toxic gaseous emissions.
These emissions may emanate from agricultural operations, food processing
plants, pulp and paper mills, or various other small businesses
throughout rural Georgia. Members are working on various aspects
of theses problems including better measurement techniques, atmospheric
studies to better understand the dissemination of odor plumes, and
various treatment strategies that would provide more effective and
more affordable methods to control, contain, and prevent odorous
or toxic emissions.
UGA
Extension Cotton Team
Steve M. Brown, Coordinator
The UGA Cotton Team includes
extension faculty in several departments with assignment in cotton.
We interact almost daily to develop a variety of educational efforts
pertinent to cotton, including newsletters, annual production guide,
web page information, tours growers meetings, field days, scout
schools, pest management information, etc. We pool our resources
and talents in applied field research and demonstration projects
to benefit county extension agents and ultimately, Georgia cotton
producers. We interact with research counterparts to a)disseminate
research findings and b) develop research protocol.
UGA
Extension Grains Team
Dewey Lee, Coordinator
This team
of Extension scientist focuses attention on the problems facing
Georgia’s
grain producers and works together to develop educational and applied
research programs dedicated to solving these problems. This team
is dedicated to testing and introducing new technology that improves
efficiency and production of wheat, rye, oats, corn and grain
sorghurm.
UGA
Extension Peanut Team
John Beasley, Coordinator
The UGA Extension Peanut
Team is comprised of faculty representing five different disciplines
within the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. The
primary responsibility of these scientists is disseminating peanut
production information to producers in Georgia via the county agent
delivery system. The members provide information in the areas of
agronomics, soil science, weed science, entomology, plant pathology,
mechanization, irrigation, production economics, and marketing.
Methods of delivering this information include the following: county
agent in-service training, extension bulletins, newsletters, county
production meetings, on-farm demonstrations, trouble-shooting field
visits, distance diagnostics, telephone hotlines, miscellaneous
publications, and internet web pages. The major objective of this
information is to provide Georgia peanut producers with timely,
relative, research-based data. These data will help producers in
making sound, cost-effective decisions that result in the highest
quality crop at the most profitable yield. For more information,
our web site is www.ugapeanuts.com.
UGA
Extension Tobacco Team
J. Michael Moore, Coordinator
The UGA Extension
Tobacco Team is comprised of those Extension Scientists who have
some time
devoted to tobacco work. The team approach allows for coordinated
planning and implementation of educational programs to include:
the three day Georgia Tobacco School conducted in February of
each
year, numerous on-farm demonstrations across the state conducted
with local County Agents and farmers, the annual Georgia Tobacco
Tour of on-farm demonstrations and the Costal Plain Experiment
Station,
and the production of the annual Georgia Tobacco Grower’s
Guide which includes demonstration results and recommended practices
for
tobacco production in Georgia.
The UGA Tobacco Committee
is comprised of both the Extension Scientists and the Research Scientists
who have some time devoted to tobacco projects. The committee interaction
allows all members of the tobacco faculty and staff to be aware
of the activities of other committee members and promotes cooperation
and collaboration between various disciplines as well as between
the researchers and the extension scientists. The committee works
together to coordinate proposals for industry funding of tobacco
projects and to publish the Georgia Tobacco Research - Extension
Report which contains reports of the tobacco related projects conducted
annually by research and extension.
Listings
of the members of these groups are on the tobacco web page: www.griffin.uga.edu/caes/tobacco/
UGA
Extension Vegetable Team
David Langston, Coordinator
The Extension Vegetable
Team is a group of University of Georgia College of Agricultural
and Environmental Sciences facility with a common goal of keeping
the Georgia Vegetable industry profitable. Members of the team are
extension faculty from Departments of Horticulture, Plant Pathology,
Entomology, Agricultural and Applied Economics, Crop and Soil Sciences,
Biological and Agricultural Engineering, and Food Science and Technology.
Affiliated members represent Georgia Farm Bureau, Georgia Agribusiness
Council, Georgia Watermelon Growers Association, and Vidalia Onion
Commission.
The team meets quarterly
to plan various activities that include:
- Developing and updating
recommendations for the commercial vegetable industry.
- Conducting on-farm
result demonstrations in cooperation with county extension agents.
- Cooperating with agribusiness
and governmental agencies to promote the competitiveness and sustainability
of the industry.
- Conducting educational
programs in cooperation with county extension agents to provide
current information and technology to the commercial vegetable
industry in Georgia.
The commercial
vegetable industry in Georgia has been in a period of rapid growth
over the
past several years. Vegetables have become one of the three most
valuable crop industries in Georgia, with an economic impact
of
over $1.1 billion. With increased demand for vegetables and with
the reduction of traditional program crops, vegetable production
likely will continue to grow. This new growth creates the need
for
educating new growers. Also, the rapid changes in vegetable production
technology create the challenge of continual educating agents
and
grows about new developments and information. As traditional vegetable-producing
states are faced with increasing restrictions on production,
Georgia’s
industry has the potential for continually growth; however, effective
educational programs must be maintained to help Georgia growers
take full advantage of these opportunities.
Members include: David
Langston, Chairman; Stanley Culpepper, Recorder; Georgy Boyahn,
David Adams, Darbie Granberry, Terry Kelly, Kerry Harrison, Paul
Sumner, Bill Hurst, Stanley Culpepper and Greg Fonsah.
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