1. 2011 Summary of Irwin County Extension Peanut and Cotton Educational Efforts
Edwards*, , Troutman, R.P.1 S.A.2
1Cooperative Extension, University of Georgia, 107 West 4th Street, Ocilla, GA 31774
2 Cooperative Extension, Fort Valley State University, 107 West 4th Street, Ocilla, Georgia 31774
RESPONSE
Meetings: Peanut and Cotton Production, Crop
Budget, Weed Management, Hull Scrape Clinics,
USDA Ag Management Seminar, Ag Awareness Day
Communication: Newsletters via email , Current Weed Meeting Cotton Quality Award
ABSTRACT
Peanuts and cotton are important agronomic crops to Extension Webpage, Weekly news articles and
Irwin County with over 60,000 acres grown each year. occasional feature stories Ocilla Star, WSST TV
Irwin County is a top ten row crop and forage county
thanks mostly to these two crops. Assisting farmers in Farmer Recognition: TM Hobbs High Yield Peanut
achieving peanut and cotton profitability and quality is Award, Irwin County Farmer of the Year, Cotton Quality
the major goal. Educational efforts are conducted in Award, GA Peanut Achievement Club
Hobbs Peanut Award GA Peanut Achievement
the county with excellent support from UGA Extension
Specialists. Area agri-businesses help sponsor On-Farm Applied Research Demonstrations:
programs. Issues are varied as the crop year Peanut Seed Spacing Trial – 5,6,7 seed per foot
progresses in such areas as soil sampling, crop replicated trial with GAO6G and Georgia Greener
budgets, crop rotation, planting, soil temperature, Peanut Fungicide Trial - Early banded/broadcast
tillage, fertilization, variety selection, herbicide usage, Proline followed by Provost program or Convoy
fungicide programs, pest management, crop maturity /Tebuconazole program Farmer of the Year Peanut Fungicide Trial
determination, safe pesticide usage, accurate Cotton Variety Trial – DP1137B2RF, DP1048B2RF,
calibration, irrigation and others. The objectives are to FM1740B2RF, PHY375WRF, ST5458B2RF,
plan and provide effective educational opportunities to PHY499WRF, ST4288B2RF, PHY565WRF,
farmers, the agricultural community and consumers DP1034B2RF, DP1133B2RF, DP0912B2RF
through numerous and diverse methods. Additionally Stink Bug Efficacy Trial – Leverage 360/NIS,
efforts are made to recognize farmer achievements. Leverage360/COC,Leverage360/Orthene, Diamond,
Information is presented meetings, office and farm Endigo, Orthene, Bidrin, Belay, Fastac, Hero Cotton Variety Trial
visits, phone contacts, email, newsletters, news
articles, on-farm applied research trials, maturity Collaborative Projects: USDA grant for Irwin County
clinics, cotton defoliation determination, state and Farmers Market, GA Peanut Commission grant, GA
national meetings, and similar activities. The success Cotton Commission funding, New Osceola Gin
or failure of these two crops directly affects the viability Company, USDA ARS and UGA Dept. of Entomology
of the local, state and regional economy. Stink Bug Migration Study, FVSU Team Success Intern
Newsletter Media
Consultation: Farm Visits, Office Visits, Phone Calls,
SITUATION IMPACT
Soil/Nematode/Tissue submissions, IPM, DDDI, GA
 Peanut and cotton production issues dominate  430 peanut maturity samples checked
AEMN, Peanut Maturity Clinics - Daily during harvest,
Extension programming efforts 30 email newsletters to 300 farmers
Crop Budget and Crop Comparison Tools, Peanut Rx,
 Farmers demand and receive current, unbiased  Estimated 74% of peanut and 66% cotton
Pesticide Training and recertification, EPD agricultural
information through Irwin County Cooperative acreage directly impacted by peanut maturity clinics
water permits,
Extension efforts or defoliation recommendations
 Irwin County peanut and cotton farm gate value  On-Farm trial results presented in 2012 at county
Presentations: GA Association of County Agricultural
2011 was $59,394,618 production meetings, and via newsletters
Agents – Poster, Peanut Education for Excellence
 Rapid transfer of information to farmers is critical  Efforts have helped farmers make the transition
American Peanut Research Education Society –
with emergence of new varieties and new technology. to new cotton and peanut varieties, control stink bug
Presentation, Georgia Peanut Commission Research
 Impact of drought caused increased demand for populations and modify peanut row patterns
Day, Beltwide Cotton Conference - Poster
irrigation which has stressed available resources.