UGA Cooperative Extension
Clayton County Extension Office:
Agriculture & Natural Resources
Cooperative Extension Agent: Winston Eason
Agricultural Competitiveness and Profitability
Classes and printed material are available on lawns, landscaping, insect control, fruit and vegetable production, pesticide application and soil tests, as well as traditional farm production.
Natural Resources and Environmental Management
Information is available on disposing of hazardous household waste, and on conserving water both inside and outside the home, including lawns and gardens.
Home Horticulture
The home horticulture program serves a clientele which possesses an insatiable need for horticulture information. Home and community gardens, residential landscape design, lawn care and management, social insect control and community beautification are all issues of concern to local residents. Clayton County Extension responds to these needs through office and site consultations, telephone contacts and formal educational programs such as seminars and workshops. The Clayton County Master Gardeners play an important role in addressing some of these issues. Our educational programs are listed below.
|
|
Cooperative Extension also offers diagnostic laboratory services in the areas of plant tissue sampling, insect and plant identification, plant disease identification, soil testing, hay and forage testing, and domestic water analysis and problem solving.
top
Green Industry & Agribusiness
The green industry is one of the fastest growing industries in the state. The green industry consists of commercial landscape contractors, municipal landscape maintenance personnel, recreational fields and golf courses, as well as nurseries, sod farms and all related sales and products. Most raw materials are produced in the lower half of the state, with manufactured goods and final utilization occurring in the metro counties.
Clayton County contributes significantly to the revenues generated by this industry. Revenue generated by all the local garden centers and plant nurseries in the county is substantial. The commercial green industry in Clayton County generates over $40 million dollars annually. The State Farmers' Market is home to some of the most lucrative agribusinesses in the state.
Increase in demand for products, services, and subsequent use of these inputs has created a heightened awareness of environmental issues associated with the industry. Consumers (end-product users) have become more aware of the environmental impact of agricultural inputs that go into producing edible products, or used in establishing and maintaining a very well cared for landscape.
This awareness is putting pressure on landscapers and suppliers of fresh produce to become more familiar with these issues, and to take a more responsible proactive approach to best management practices in delivering their products and services. Clayton County Extension planned, designed, and implemented ornamental integrated pest management scout training programs specifically designed to teach landscapers the importance of environmental stewardship.
The following training opportunities are offered to the commercial industry:
- Training for the mandatory pesticide certification license. This certification is required for all landscapers who apply any form of pesticide.
- Advanced subject matter training in several horticultural topics.
- Plant disease and soil analysis diagnostic service.
- Timely workshops and seminars in commercial horticulture.
top
Master Gardener 2012 Class
The following are Adobe PDF files of the January 9, 2012 and January 23, 2012 PowerPoint presentations.
January 9, 2012 Basic Plant Nutrition
January 9, 2012 Soil Plant Nutrition
January 23, 2012 Turf Care and Selection
January 23, 2012 Water Smart Landscaping
January 23, 2012 Plant Physiology
top
