About CAES: Secondary Organizations:
Workgroups and Teams
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.
Canola
and Specialty 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.
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 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.
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.
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, non wood 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/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.
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.
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.