General Agriculture Resources
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The state of Georgia ranked ninth out of all states in 2013 for green industry (not including sod production, as this was not included in the analysis) economic contributions (including multiplier effects) to employment (64,066 jobs) and GDP ($3.79 billion) and tenth in total industry output ($6.72 billion). The largest individual sector in regard to output and employment both directly and indirectly was landscape services, representing nearly 57% of industry employment and 39% of economic output. The Georgia green industry represented 0.83% of Georgia gross domestic product (GDP), higher than that of the U.S. green industry as a whole at 0.72% U.S. GDP.
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The environmental horticulture industry, unlike many industries, is intricately connected to the national, regional, and local economy as plant and turfgrass sales ebb and flow with economic conditions. This publication updates readers on the national, regional, and local economic factors that have affected the environmental horticulture industry. Since the recession and drought of the mid-2000s, we find that the environmental horticulture industry has suffered economically and has yet to recover to pre-recession levels.
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This resource helps landscaping professionals understand the basics of perennial plant biology, ideas on design and installation, and information on cultivation and maintenance of perennial beds. Whether in a commercial installation or residential garden, perennial plants can be successfully used to offer more landscaping choices, distinguish your firm from the competition and create a niche for your landscape business. Perennial plants are complex, and it is best to contract or hire a professional landscape architect for the design phase and train knowledgeable staff in proper maintenance later on. It should also serve as a quick guide for the most common and recommended perennials for Georgia. Common-sense tips from a professional landscaper’s perspective are also included.
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Applicators used in granular applications should be calibrated to ensure uniformity and accuracy. An accurate and uniform application can reduce the quantity of an active ingredient required for a given degree of control.
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Some of the most widely adopted precision agriculture technologies include guidance systems that utilize a Global Positioning System (GPS). Although these technologies are most commonly utilized in row-crop agricultural systems, they also have many potential benefits in forage-based production systems. With so many different options to choose from, it can be a daunting task to determine which technologies are the best fit for a specific farming application and budget. When coupled with a differential GPS system (which are available in various levels of correction accuracy), the accuracy of these guidance systems can be greatly improved. The main goal of this bulletin is to cover the currently available GPS guidance options for forage production systems.
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This bulletin contains guidelines to determine irrigation scheduling for vegetable production in Georgia. Irrigation scheduling varies with water management and growers may require different technologies to properly manage water application. This information is supplied to help irrigation managers schedule and operate irrigation systems to optimal capacity, applying water precisely to the crop for maximum effectiveness and high efficiency.
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Properly maintaining, calibrating, and adjusting a seed drill before planting is an important part of ensuring the successful establishment of forage or cover crops. Seed may be placed at a depth that is too deep or too shallow if the equipment is not properly prepared and set. Too much or too little seed may be planted if the equipment is not properly calibrated. These planting mistakes may result in a poor stand, greater weed competition, lower yields, and/or reductions in forage quality. Conversely, planting more seed than required can unnecessarily increase establishment costs and can sometimes result in reduced yields. After investing in the seed and committing the time to plant a field, taking a few extra steps to ensure that investment bears fruit is well worth maintaining, calibrating, and adjusting the drill.
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Boom sprayer calibration using conventional methods (catching flow for certain time or distance) for large (60-90 ft; 54-72 nozzles) boom sprayers can be a time-consuming process. This short publication outlines steps to take to verify nozzle output and calibrate a boom sprayer, including tables with useful information on flow rates at multiple speeds for two common nozzle spacings and an equation for calculating rates if needed.
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The peanut production guide includes varieties, agronomic practices, pest management, irrigation management, equipment maintenance, maturity, and harvest practices.
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