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Midville Agronomic Field Day: Growing Success in Southeast Georgia for Over a Decade

Extension Education

Blake Carter
County Extension Agent
University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Service
Springfield

Abstract

As prices for the major row crops in Georgia have declined and government programs evolve, farmers need to make informed and sustainable decisions for their farm. The cost of producing row crops, particularly cotton and peanuts, is already high because of large investment in capital and the intense management of inputs from planting to harvest. Suppressed commodity prices due to large domestic and global supplies, in combination with reduced demand because of trade issues have led to very tight margins. The Southeast Research and Education Center (SEREC) in Midville, Georgia is in a prime location to be a central point for education that addresses the problems row crop farmers are facing. The SEREC Experiment Station’s mission is to research agricultural practices on a management scale large enough to accurately assess costs and returns for various commodities that could be adapted to the local soils and dry climate of the upper Coastal Plain region. Today, the 720-acre facility has over 60 ongoing research projects. Using that research, the Midville Research Team has rallied together for over ten-years to deliver timely crop updates and display the research that is being conducted on farm. Extension Specialists, Agents, and State Leaders meet growers and show them production practices they can apply to improve their own operations and demonstrate how their commodity check-off dollars are being used to fund research that supports sustainable food production. As of the end of the 2023 field day, over 1,200 growers, industry representatives, and state leaders have attended the Midville Agronomic Field Day. The most recent field day saw that roughly 62% of attendees were repeat visitors, while 37% were first time attendees. Roughly 98% of attendees found the field day applicable to themselves or other growers in Southeast Georgia. The most profound impact can be seen in the 92.5% of attendees that plan on implementing any of the knowledge gained in their own operation or business. A follow-up survey to this year’s survey is planned to be given in 2024 to assess the actual change or additions made in the attendees farming practices or business decisions.

 

Poster has NOT been presented at any previous NACAA AM/PIC

This poster is being submitted only for display at AM/PIC. Poster is not to be judged, but the abstract will be published in the proceedings.

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Authors: Blake Carter, Peyton Sapp, Pam Sapp, Steven Powell, R. Anthony Black, Wade Parker , Savannah Tanner, Blake Carter
  1. Carter, B. County Extension Agent, University of Georgia Cooperative Extension, Georgia, 31329
  2. Sapp, P. County Agent, University of Georgia Cooperative Extension, Georgia, 30830
  3. Sapp, P. County Agent, University of Georgia Cooperative Extension, Georgia, 30434
  4. Powell, S. County Agent, University of Georgia Cooperative Extension, Georgia, 30457
  5. Black, R. Research Station Superintendent, University of Georgia Cooperative Extension, Georgia, 30441
  6. Parker , W. SE Georgia Agronomy Agent, University of Georgia Cooperative Extension, Georgia, 30442
  7. Tanner, S. County Agent , University of Georgia Cooperative Extension, Georgia, 30401
  8. Carter, B. County Extension Agent, University of Georgia Cooperative Extension, Georgia, 31329