Our Impact
Making A Difference in Our County
University of Georgia Cooperative Extension is working hard for its constituents. The following are examples of Extension’s impact in the county over the past year.
4-H Youth Development
Title: Environmental Education Takes STEM Outside
Author: Marchant, Sheila W.
Summary:? Outdoor Environmental Education provides hands-on, applied learning in STEM for youth 3rd – 5th grade.
Situation: ?According to the Wildlife Habitat Council, many children receive only 1-3 hours weekly of STEM instruction, most of which is hands-off and inside a classroom. Many students find STEM related fields boring or intimidating (Wildlife Habitat Council). The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), states “Environmental Education (EE) is a process that allows individuals to explore environmental issues, engage in problem solving and take action to improve the environment.” Environmental Education experiences make a significant impact on students and has been shown to facilitate critical thinking skills as well as social and basic life skills and creates an environmentally literate student population (Georgia 4-H, Wahsega 4-H Center). Jeff Davis County is a rural area with 43,300 acres of row crops and two rivers that run through it, the Ocmulgee and Altamaha.? Although there is much farmland and these rivers are in the county, few students are aware of or utilize the area. They often do not recognize the potential of the environment and the importance of the ecosystems and habitats that are supported in the region. Students in the county needed more opportunities to explore the world around them and develop an appreciation of science and nature. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts STEM jobs to increase 11% by the year 2031. According to studies by North American Association for Environmental Education, students in EE not only gained knowledge about the environment, but improved academic performance, critical thinking skills, and developed personal growth including self-confidence and leadership. ????
Response
County Extension Agents worked to plan and implement a series of events to promote environmental education and STEM while raising awareness of the surrounding environment. ?Students participated in a STEM Day Camp with a focus on outdoor education. Classes in pond ecology, food webs, beneficial insect catch and release, and recreation were implemented. In addition, a class was held at the Altamaha River focusing on the ecosystem, habitats and forestry. Students studied habitats, parts of the ecosystem, types of leaves, decomposers along a nature hike and participated in a river walk/clean up along the riverbank. Class participants also planted seeds in open space for pollinators along the exercise trails.
Impact
Thirty-one students in 3rd-5th grade from Jeff Davis and Montgomery County participated in the program. As a result of these classes students identified insects that were beneficial to the area, identified parts of the pond ecosystem, habitats of the pond for different species like frogs, tadpoles, dragonflies, native plants and fish. 100% of students could identify species of fish that populated the pond. Students also recognized the importance of cleanliness of the area for recreation like canoeing and fishing, as well as conservation and water quality. One student stated “I loved canoeing and fishing at the pond and learning about the animals and plants. This was my favorite part of the day.”
River ecosystems were identified by the students as they completed activities to identify leaves of native trees along the Altamaha River. They identified decomposers and their value to the river ecosystem. All the students participated in hands-on seed planting to repopulate the area with plants for pollinators. ?Many students had never visited the river before and were fascinated by the vast area, “I didn’t know the river was so big”, said one participant. ?All students indicated they were more aware of the rivers, ponds and habitats of the surrounding environment. These educational opportunities ensure youth are given exposure needed to foster positive environmental behaviors and a passion for STEM related fields.
Agriculture and Natural Resources
Title: Hay/Forage Meeting Improves Grower Management and Increases Productivity on Farms
Author: Miller, Jennifer T.
Summary:? Hay/Forage Meeting improves delivery of critical management information to a diverse audience and increases productivity and profitability on farms.
Situation: Jeff Davis County has more than 4,000 acres of hay and pastureland, and produces approximately three thousand, five hundred cows a year. Many cattle and hay producers have another job and use this to supplement their income. Improper cutting, management and pest issues in hay can reduce yields and cost producers’ money. With such a diverse audience growers need educational opportunities that deliver critical updates in a timely and convenient format.
Response?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? ?
Over the past two years the agent has partnered with a local business to plan and implement an evening Hay/Forage Meeting for producers. The meeting was held at the local fairgrounds building adjacent to a hayfield owned by the local business owner. This program has attracted 102 people over the last two years, from nine different counties and two states. Through this partnership with the local business the agent was able to bring in equipment and industry representatives for a demo during the meeting. Massey Ferguson tractors and Vermeer hay equipment were a part of the meeting in 2023 and 2024. Educational topics covered at the meetings by 海角官方首页 Extension and Specialists include Proper Hay Cutting for Quality, Bermuda Grass Stem Maggot Control, Forage Quality and Sampling, NRCS Pertinent Programs for Producers along with hands-on Equipment Demonstration. The field portion of the meeting brings relevance to the program showing tangible aspects the producers can adopt on their farm. This educational event will improve management practices for participating growers.
Impact??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? ?
Thirty people that participated in the meeting both years were surveyed. Those participants ranked Proper Hay Cutting, Forage Quality Sampling and Bermudagrass Stem Maggot Information as the most useful topics covered. As a result of knowledge gained, thirty-three percent started pulling hay quality samples or increased their sampling to ensure animals are receiving nutritional feed. Fifty-three percent of surveyed participants changed the way they sprayed bermudagrass stem maggot after the meetings. Improper cutting of hay can delay regrowth and decrease the number of cuttings from four per season to three, decreasing the amount of hay available to sell or feed their animals. Damage from bermudagrass stem maggot can be devastating to a field. High numbers of bermudagrass stem maggot without treatment or proper treatment time, can also mean a grower loses a cutting. One hay cutting can yield 1.5 tons per acre at $250 to $500 per ton, depending on if it is sold in round or square bales. Reduced growth on grazed pastures means that a producer will need to buy hay from elsewhere to supplement their feeding. Normal growth yields approximately three and a half rolls per acre, a roll of hay averages $70. Losses from improper management add up fast, making timely education on these topics critical to mitigate loss to hay producers in Jeff Davis County and surrounding areas.
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