Dorchester/Berkeley Crop Update
Newsletter
Rebecca Hellmuth
Row Crops Extension Agent
Clemson Extension
St. George
Team Members:
Hellmuth, R1
-
Row Crops Extension Agent, Clemson Extension, St.George, South Carolina, 29477
Abstract
Rebecca Hellmuth, a row crops extension agent for Clemson University in South Carolina, writes a newsletter entitled the “Dorchester/Berkeley County Crop Update.” Ms. Hellmuth’s responsibilities include Dorchester and Berkeley Counties in southeastern South Carolina. The bi-weekly newsletter covers timely, local information for row crop growers around St. George which is the primary area of crop production in the two counties. Each issue of the newsletter focuses on a certain crop (corn, cotton, soybeans, or peanuts) or other relevant issue related to farming such as soil sampling, nematode management, and Farm Bill decisions. On page 2 of the newsletter, the article series called “Closer Look” provides scientific explanation in layman’s terms of soils topics – Ms. Hellmuth’s specialty. The newsletter also provides information on events for Clemson Extension, SC Department of Pesticide Regulation, USDA Farm Service Agency, Natural Resource and Conservation Service, and SC Department of Agriculture. Ms. Hellmuth sends out the newsletter by email to 125 recipients composed of growers, industry representatives, and other extension agents and specialists and by mail to 14 growers who do not have email accounts. She distributes the newsletter to the USDA Farm Service Agency office and the local farm supply. Ms. Hellmuth writes and prepares each issue using Microsoft Publisher. The newsletter provides more consistent communication with growers, increased grower awareness of Clemson’s current research, and industry advances in farming technology, and better contact with industry representatives. Since Ms. Hellmuth began writing the newsletter, she has seen increased attendance at her extension programs.
Years of CES Service: 0
Upload two issues of your newsletter