Our Impact
Youth Ag Awareness Campaign
Summary
In Seminole County, Georgia, agriculture is the largest industry. The 成人影院 Seminole County Extension/ 4-H implemented an Agricultural Awareness Campaign that would introduce 4-H aged youth in Seminole County to agriculture career possibilities through over twenty different programs in 2024.
Situation
Agriculture based businesses, in Seminole County, Georgia, account for ~49% of Seminole County’s total income and employ approximately 17% of the county population. Making agriculture the third largest employer following government and goods producing industries. Furthermore, over 70% of the county’s land mass is dedicated to crop production. With the average age of a principle farm operator at 58.5 years, this provides excellent career opportunities for agriculturally focused youth within the community.
Response
The 成人影院 Seminole County 4-H came together to implemented an Agricultural Awareness Campaign that would introduce 4-H aged youth in Seminole County to agriculture career possibilities through over twenty different programs in 2024. These programs included: Seminole County Farm Tour, 4-H Crop Scouting School, 成人影院 Tifton Campus agriculture research tour, 4-H Land Judging Contest, 4-H Poultry Judging Contest, 4-H Cotton Boll Consumer Judging Contest, 4-H DPA Ag Relate Projects, several Seminole County Livestock Shows, 5th Grade Farm Knowledge Bowl, Program on Cotton at 5th grade club meeting, Program on Peanuts at 5th grade club meetings, Lesson on Poultry in Georgia at 5th grade club meetings, and Lesson on Dairy at 5th grade club meetings.
Impact
The 成人影院 Seminole County Ag Awareness Campaign consisted of twenty educational programs for 4-H aged youth within the community. Through the twenty programs the Agricultural Awareness Campaign had over 1600 direct contacts with youth in the community, and over 650,000 indirect contacts with the community through thirty-six newspaper articles and over one hundred post on the 成人影院 Seminole County Facebook page. Of these programs all participants were evaluated and all rated programs as excellent.
Farm Bowl 5th grade Student: “The Farm Bowl is an awesome experience! I felt like I spent the day on the farm after playing the games at Farm Bowl. We milked cows, lassoed calves, rounded up pigs and rode horses. We also got to see live farm animals! It was so much fun! I have always watched other fifth graders participate in Farm Bowl! I am so glad I am actually old enough that participate now!”
Ag Lesson 5th grade Teacher: “Ms. Cindy does an amazing job throughout the year teaching our students about agriculture. It is so important that students know about and understand agriculture due to it being such a huge industry in our area. She always finds a way to bring in the local community and farmers in her lessons as well as promote Georgia 4-H and 成人影院! The students are excited to attend club meetings each month! She also includes the students in so many different activities and helps them be involved in our small community in so many ways, just like she is! We are blessed to have Ms. Cindy at SCES and in Seminole County! She is a great asset to our community and 4-H!”
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Forced Motor Calibration for At-Plant Insecticide Application
Summary
In 2024, the Seminole County ANR agent assisted peanut, cotton, and corn growers with the calibration of their planter insecticide hoppers using a center drive motor to ensure row crop producers were putting out the recommended amount of at-plant insecticide for effective control of insects, soil pests, and nematodes.
Situation
Peanut, cotton, and corn growers in Seminole County utilize an at-plant insecticide and/or nematicide for the control of insects, soil pests, and nematodes. It is estimated that 95% of row crop acres in Seminole County have at-plant applications of insecticides and/or nematicides. Thrips are an important pest in peanuts and are a vector for the tomato spotted wilt virus. In 2019 alone, tomato spotted wilt virus caused a 7% reduction in crop value and over $46 million in damage. Nematodes caused an 8% reduction in cotton crop value with over $78 million in damage and in peanuts a 4% reduction in crop value and over $26 million in damage. Dr. Bob Kemerait, 成人影院 Plant Pathologist, indicates that protecting corn against nematodes with nematicides increases yields by 10 to 60 bushels per acre, depending on the type of nematode and choice of nematicide. Appropriate rates of these insecticides are necessary to control these pests adequately. Over time, wear and tear on planter equipment can cause the insecticide hoppers to not apply the correct amount of insecticide, so annual calibration is important.
Response
A center drive motor was donated to the University of Georgia Southwest District Extension office in 2023 for ANR agents to utilize and assist producers with calibrating their planter insecticide hoppers. The Seminole County ANR agent used this tool to calibrate five planters for three different growers that were using either at-plant insecticides or nematicides.
Impact
For one Seminole County corn producer, the pesticide hoppers on one planter were overapplying a nematicide by a total of 5.2 lbs across 675 acres, resulting in $15,795 of unintended costs, considering the cost of the product at $4.50/lb. In addition, a second planter was underapplying a nematicide by a total of 2.8 lbs per acre which can cause a reduction of yield caused by nematode damage of up to 60 bushels an acre. In this scenario, applying a yield reduction of 60 bu/acre of corn valued at $5.16/bu, we potentially gained the grower $208,980 in value of corn grown across 675 acres by accurately calibrating his under-applying planter. In total, across 1350 acres of corn, this grower potentially recovered a value of $224,775 by utilizing Seminole County Extension’s value-added service to calibrate at-plant hopper box insecticide application to apply corn nematicide correctly.