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Consumer Q's - August 2, 2007

Contact:  Teresa Jenkins
(404) 656-3645
1-800-282-5852

CONSUMER Q’s

Prepared by the Georgia Department of Agriculture, Office of Public Affairs
Tommy Irvin, Commissioner
Call Consumer Q’s Hotline at 1-800-282-5852

Consumer Alert:  Georgia receives USDA disaster designation

Georgia Commissioner of Agriculture Tommy Irvin said he is pleased to hear that the U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns has designated 158 Georgia counties as disaster areas due to agricultural damage from the effects of drought.  Governor Perdue submitted the request for the Secretarial Disaster Designation earlier this year and made the announcement this evening.

“This is something we have been anticipating,” Irvin said.  “Although a Secretarial Disaster Designation only enables farmers in qualifying counties to apply for emergency loan assistance from the Farm Service Agency, this action will help at least some of our farmers cope with the losses they have incurred due to the ongoing drought.”

USDA declared 149 of Georgia’s 159 counties as primary natural disaster areas and nine more as contiguous disaster areas.  The nine counties declared as contiguous disaster areas are Baldwin, Chattahoochee, Dooly, Harris, Jones, Marion, Putnam, Talbot and Washington.  The only county that did not qualify for the primary or contiguous designation is Muscogee. The rest of the counties were approved as primary disaster areas.  The 10 counties not included in the primary designation will continue to be evaluated as more assessment reports and determinations of losses are completed by USDA.

To receive a disaster designation, a county must have incurred a loss of 30 percent or more in dollar value for all crops, or of a single crop or group of crops, such as all feed crops or all fruit crops.

Once a county receives a disaster designation by the Secretary of Agriculture, all farmers in the county become eligible to apply to the USDA Farm Service Agency for low-interest emergency loans.  Although all farmers are eligible to apply, they do not automatically qualify for the loans.  Each farmer must meet individual eligibility requirements.

The Farm Service Agency considers each loan application on its own merits, taking into account the extent of losses, security available and repayment ability.  Local FSA offices can provide affected farmers in the designated counties with further information and assist them in completing loan applications.

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I would like some information on container gardening.  I live in an apartment with afternoon sun.  Also, what are some easy plants?

Afternoon sun tends to be hot and so you would look for plants that can withstand both heat and full sun.  For easy plants for a large outdoor container you might consider red salvia, blue salvia "Victoria", zinnias, "Wave" petunias, or marigolds.  You can mix and match.   Since you are just beginning with container gardening, you might look at a book or two about it.  For an easy indoor plant, you might try a rubber plant, schefflera, dracaena, philodendron, snake plant, Chinese evergreen, cast-iron plant, rohdea, phothos, spider plant or an asparagus fern.  You might also want to look at a book or two about houseplants to get a feel for how to care for them.

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I have a problem with wild cats and dogs attacking my chickens.  What can I do to stop them?

Free-range chickens and their offspring are vulnerable to attack from feral cats and dogs.  Both can have a devastating effect on your chicken flock, at best causing a break in laying and at worst total loss of the entire flock.  Keeping the chickens well fenced in helps.  Contact your local animal control office or sheriff for assistance.

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What is the difference between a hare and a rabbit?

When placed side by side, the physical and behavioral differences between a rabbit and a hare are more apparent.  The Cottontail rabbit has a small body and shorter ears and legs, which are best suited for living in areas of dense shrubby land.  Their shorter anatomy lets them dive quickly into areas of cover, therefore there is no need for great distance running to avoid predators.  Hares on the other hand, have long powerful legs and bodies built to out-run predators in open country.

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My figs have ripened and are ready to be picked, but there are too many hornets, yellow jackets and bees.  How can I get rid of them?

In speaking with our office of plant protection, I have been advised that there is really no safe way to get rid of the bees, hornets and yellow jackets.  Spraying them is not an option because you plan to eat the fruit.  The only suggestion is that you purchase and use protective gear.

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I am planning on opening a shop to sell pre-packaged bakery goods.  Do I need a license to do this?

Yes, you will need to be inspected and issued a permit from the Department of Agriculture to conduct a business of this nature.  To make arrangements for an inspection please contact our office of Consumer Protection at 404/656-3621.

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August Gardening Tips

Two or three leaves should be left when cutting gladiolus, so that the bulbs can ripen.

Transplant Oriental poppies now.

Rock-garden plants should be checked to see if they need thinning.  Overcrowded plants will not stay healthy or attractive.

Sow these perennials outdoors for next spring: aquilegia, Phlox paniculata, digitalis, centaurea, and primrose.

Cut back the flower stalks of perennials that have finished blooming.

Cut spent delphinium flower stalks off and a new, though smaller, flower stalk will develop.  The plant will survive the coming cold days and even light frosts.

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If you have questions, or problems with services or products regulated by the Georgia Department of Agriculture you may write to the Office of Consumer Services, 19 Martin Luther King Drive, Room 224, Atlanta, Georgia 30334 or call 404/656-3645 (Atlanta metro area) or toll-free, 1-800-282-5852 (statewide).