The Latest from the Gilmer County Extension Agent

Forestry Update

By: Eddie Ayers, County Extension Agent

Trees are a big business in the South with more than 209 million acres of timberland spread across the 13-state region and landowners are planting more trees every year. The forest products industry supports about 1.2 million jobs and because forests are so important in our area, I wanted to pass along some important information about economics and fires.

A while back, the Southern Regional Extension Forestry office (SREF), in partnership with the Southern Group of State Foresters (SGSF), launched a one-stop website offering the most recent data on the economic impacts of forestry and timberland across the South.

The website http://forestryimpacts.net/ provides easy access to economic impact reports for each of the 13 states in the Southern region, as well as links to other relevant forest economic resources on the web. SREF and its partners created the website to respond to the needs of educators, policymakers, community leaders and the general public for comprehensive and convenient forest-related economic information. It serves as an essential resource for those seeking to promote the importance of forestry and the forest products industry.

Even though we have received some summer showers in the last few weeks, we are still experiencing above normal dry conditions. Under these conditions any type of ignition source can cause a wildfire, so please take precautions when burning anything outside.

Grass, leaves, limbs, and other flammable material should be cleared from the area to be used for a campfire or open burning. Keep a shovel, rake, and water close by when burning. Make sure campfires are completely extinguished when you are finished enjoying them. Pouring water on top does not always do the trick. You need to stir the coals and apply more water to ensure that it is dead before leaving camp.

And remember that any type of open burning requires a burn permit. A permit is available on-line at http://gatrees.org/ or you can contact your local Georgia Forestry Commission office or call 1-877-OK2-Burn (1-877-652-2876), although campfires, recreational, and cooking fires are exempt from burn permit requirements.

Do keep in mind that there are heightened air quality concerns regarding the formation of ground-level ozone in the summer months so open burning is prohibited in the Environmental Protection Division’s summer burn ban region until September 30^th.

Also remember to follow the quote from the famous Smokey the Bear, “Only you can prevent forest fires.”

 

Egg Candling

Raising a flock of backyard chickens ensures that you have a steady supply of fresh eggs but if you plan to sell those eggs, Georgia law requires the eggs be candled. Candling is the age-old method of looking inside an egg, without breaking it open, and figuring out what’s going on inside. The name comes from the days before electricity when candles were used to illuminate the eggs. Farmers initially candled eggs to determine if a viable embryo was inside and to check the development of the baby chick.

Egg candling also helps farmers determine the quality of the eggs for human consumption. The amount of air inside the shell indicates the egg’s freshness. Looking at the egg’s air cell, the yolk and the albumen (or egg white) determines whether the egg should be graded AA, A, B or inedible.

Another test that you can do at home to determine egg freshness is to place an uncooked egg in water. If it sinks, it is fresh because the air cell is small. Eggs that float are not as fresh because the air cell has gotten larger.

Small poultry flocks have become very popular in Georgia, and some backyard farmers are very interested in supplementing their income by selling farm-fresh eggs. To be sold, all chicken eggs must be evaluated by a certified grader and appropriately packaged and labeled in accordance with the Georgia Egg Law and Georgia Food Act. To sell eggs to a farmer’s market, grocery store, bakery, or restaurant, the Georgia Department of Agriculture (GDOA) must license the farmer’s candling facility. The no-cost, lifetime certificate is obtained by passing both written and hands-on candling examinations. Experts with the GDOA teach classes on egg candling.

Four egg candling classes have been scheduled by the GDOA in July. They are Friday, July 15, in Spalding County; Monday, July 25, in Bibb County; and Wednesday, July 27, in Walker County and Lowndes County. For more information, contact Bradley Brown at 770-535-5955 or Hayley Pitts at 229-386-3489 at the GDOA.

Also, I want to remind everyone that as a fundraiser, the local UGA Extension office is selling Six Flag and White Water tickets. Stop by and check out the different options to visit these two outstanding parks and help the Gilmer County 4-H Club in the process. Our office is located at 1123 Progress Road in Ellijay. Office hours are Monday through Friday from 8 am to 5 pm, except closed for lunch from 12 noon to 1 pm. You can also call us for more information at 706-635-4426.

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