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
Summary
Over the past 16 years, the Berrien Co. Youth Livestock Association along with partnerships with the Berrien Co. Board of Commissioners have improved local livestock facilities while simultaneously strengthening social capital in the community and engaging youth in positive livestock exhibition experiences.
Situation
The Berrien Co. Livestock and Agriculture Center was built over 30 years ago to provide a permanent area for 4-H and FFA youth to exhibit livestock. Previously youth exhibited livestock in tobacco warehouses or outdoors in make-shift arenas. The Agriculture Center has also functioned as a voting precinct, multi-purpose community facility, BB (Shooting Awareness Fun and Education.) shooting range, and even an evacuation location in the event of a hurricane.?
In 2008, $26,000 was secured through the Berrien Co. Commissioners to expand the inside of the facility to accommodate more spectators and to lengthen the show area. Research by Arnold (2018) indicates that youth reach key developmental outcomes through 4-H participation: Academic Achievement, Social Competence, High Personal Standards, Contribution to Others, Connection with Others, and Personal Responsibility. Berrien County's local livestock program need to improve livestock exhibition infrastructure still exists to accommodate the 80 youth annually that develop life skills through this educational opportunity.
Response
The County Agent along with members of the Berrien Co. Youth Livestock Association regularly meet to discuss ways to improve the overall experience of livestock exhibition. Several items were communicated as being items needed and actions to take which included: purchasing digital scales, construction of a shelter over the wash rack, more pens for the hog show, show ring improvements, as well as completing concrete under the remaining area of the livestock pavilion.?
From 2008-2016 these improvements were made totaling a $60,000 investment from both the Berrien Co. Livestock Association and the Berrien Co. Board of Commissioners. Since then, new improvements to upgrade the show facilities (a new penning system, HVAC system, paint, as well as a renovation of bathrooms), as well as a scholarship program were identified.
Impact
This year, the Berrien Youth Livestock Association used fundraising dollars to purchase a collapsable pen system. Forty-six pens and a seven-pen wash rack were purchased costing $31,500. This system will allow for a more streamlined setup and breakdown. It will also allow the hog show committee to make available to participants several of the old hog pens.?
The association received names of participants that were interested in the old pens and the pens were given to those families via a lottery. The old pens will now become a useful part of many show families’ facilities rather than taking up space around the Ag Center. One such family currently has their hogs housed together which makes it difficult to regulate feeding. This family is grateful for an upgrade to their pens and knows that it will make their future livestock exhibition more successful. Two additional exhibitors now have a better opportunity to house their animals at home rather than at the local high school, making working with their animals more convenient. With more old hog pens available next year, all the families interested will have better facilities at home.
The Berrien Co. Commissioners voted to upgrade the HVAC system in the Ag Center at a cost of $40,000. They also approved painting of the inside along with renovation of bathrooms at a cost of $17,000. Nearly $90,000 has been invested to improve the facility and livestock exhibition infrastructure this year. Since 2008, over $150,000 has been invested to upgrade and improve livestock show facilities. Supplementary funds are presently being raised for additional improvements including a matching shelter to provide more covered space at the pavilion as well as more hog pens. One member states “Improvements to the Ag Center have made it much more functional to exhibitors. The updates to the facilities and equipment shows that others see the value of livestock exhibition for Berrien County youth.”.
Over 1200 youth (duplicates included) have been impacted from the improvements by participating in 35 livestock shows held at the facilities. The skills gained through livestock exhibition have had lasting impact on participants. A scholarship program was implemented in 2017 with a total of over $8,000 granted since the inception.?
Graduating senior exhibitors complete an application which includes a 750-word essay describing the benefits received from exhibiting livestock, how to give back to the industry, career aspirations, and future involvement with the association. One applicant wrote, “I would like to give back and teach younger exhibitors. Showing takes lots of hard work, but showing provides some of the best lessons and memories. Livestock made me responsible and taught me respect. I also learned to be patient, stay calm, and set my eyes on a goal.” Another applicant stated, “just because I am not taking an animal career pathway, doesn’t mean that I will not portray the traits that I have learned during all of my livestock projects. Another recognized the closeness of family, the many connections to people and the friendships not just in Georgia but across the country.
AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES
Summary
Berrien County grows about 22,000 acres of peanuts. It is important to know when to dig peanuts, otherwise severe yield loss can occur. The Berrien County Agent evaluated 492 peanut samples from 68 farmers in 2023 for proper digging date. This could potentially save peanut growers $319 an acre.
Situation
Berrien County producers grow approximately 22,000 acres of peanuts with an economic value of close to $24 million. Due to peanuts indeterminate growth habit and the difficulty of being able to determine the maturity of peanut pods, peanut producers often question the most optimal time to dig peanuts., Peanut hull scraping, or ?blasting?, is an important tool that has been developed to allow extension agents help growers decide on a more accurate date to dig peanuts and a value added service provided to peanut producers that supports maximizing the yield potential of peanut crops.
Response
The county agent coordinated clinics held at four separate locations weekly during the peanut growing season. The county agent also checked peanuts on an as needed basis, by meeting with farmers one on one. Peanuts were checked by taking 180-200 peanuts and using a pressure washer to ?blast? the outer hull off. Immature peanuts are yellow and will progress to black as they mature. Cooperative Extension has developed a peanut board that helps county agents sort these peanuts out and determine how soon the dig date based on how these peanuts are progressing from yellow to black. Other factors such as peanut oil development, vine condition and future weather patterns also play a role in helping make digging recommendations.
Impact
During the 2023 growing season the Berrien County Agent conducted maturity checks on 492 peanut samples submitted by 68 local farmers, scouts, and consultants. According to the National Peanut Research Lab, a 30% yield loss may occur if peanuts are dug three weeks too early. Considering the Berrien County average yield of 4,250 pounds an acre, the potential 30% yield loss for Berrien County peanut producers, from digging peanut crop too early, is approximately 1,275 pounds. Applying a revenue of $0.25 price per pound, this would result in an economic loss of $319 an acre. When applied to the 22,000 acres that are typically planted in Berrien County this would result in a potential total yield loss of over 28 million pounds of peanuts and an economic loss of over $7 million.