#AgricultureNews | AM 1180 Radio

May 26, 2026

Drought Raises Concerns For Georgia Apple Farmers Ahead Of Fall Harvest

Local News, Local News Items #AgricultureNews, #AppleCapitalOfGeorgia, #DroughtConditions, #EllijayGA, #FallHarvest, #FarmReport, #GeorgiaApples, #GeorgiaFarmers, #GilmerCounty, #NorthGeorgia, #northwestgeorgia, #wzqznews 0

Apple farmers in North Georgia are watching the weather closely as a months-long drought raises concerns about the upcoming fall harvest.

In Gilmer County, home to Ellijay — known as the Apple Capital of Georgia — orchard owners say dry conditions are already putting stress on apple trees. Curled leaves, reduced moisture, and weakened tree health could all affect the size and quality of this year’s crop.

Agriculture experts say drought-stressed trees are more vulnerable to disease, fungus, and bacteria. Without enough rainfall, apple trees may produce lower yields and smaller fruit, and in more severe cases, some apples could fall from the trees before harvest.

Farmers say North Georgia has received more rain than some other parts of the state, but several areas remain in severe drought. Growers are hoping for more rain before the fall apple season begins.

Apple picking season in North Georgia traditionally begins around Labor Day weekend and continues through October.

May 22, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Asian Longhorned Tick Confirmed in Georgia and Alabama

Local News, Local News Items #AgricultureNews, #AlabamaAgriculture, #AlabamaAnimalHealth, #AnimalHealth, #AsianLonghornedTick, #CattleHealth, #chattoogacounty, #DeKalbCountyAL, #ExtensionService, #Farmers, #FarmNews, #floydcountyga, #GeorgiaAgriculture, #GeorgiaDepartmentOfAgriculture, #HabershamCountyGA, #HallCountyGA, #LivestockHealth, #LivestockOwners, #NorthGeorgia, #northwestgeorgia, #OutdoorSafety, #PetOwners, #PickensCountyGA, #PublicHealth, #Theileriosis, #TickAlert, #TickPrevention, #TickSafety, #VeterinaryCare, #WhiteCountyGA, #WZQZ, #wzqznews 0

Agriculture and animal health officials in Georgia and Alabama are urging livestock owners, pet owners, and outdoor enthusiasts to be on alert after the Asian Longhorned Tick was confirmed in multiple counties across the region.

April 23, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Arrest Report – Thursday – April 23, 2026

Local News, Local News Items #AgNews, #AgricultureNews, #chattoogacounty, #DisasterAssistance, #DroughtConditions, #DroughtRelief, #EconomicRelief, #EmergencyLoans, #FarmingCommunity, #FarmRelief, #FarmServiceAgency, #GeorgiaAgriculture, #GeorgiaFarmers, #LocalFarming, #northwestgeorgia, #RuralGeorgia, #USDADisaster, #WeatherImpact, #wzqznews 0

Here is the latest arrest report from the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office for Thursday, April 23, 2026:

April 23, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

USDA Declares Drought Disaster, Includes Chattooga County In Assistance Area

Farmers in Chattooga County and across Northwest Georgia may soon see relief after the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) designated 126 Georgia counties as natural disaster areas due to ongoing drought conditions.

March 22, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Chattooga Young Farmers Announce Vidalia Onion Sale for 2026 Season

Community Calandar, Community Calendar, Local News, Local News Items #AgricultureNews, #chattoogacounty, #ChattoogaYoungFarmers, #CommunityNews, #FarmNews, #Fundraiser, #GeorgiaAgriculture, #GeorgiaFarmers, #GeorgiaGrown, #LocalAgriculture, #northwestgeorgia, #OnionSale, #OrderNow, #SeasonalProduce, #summervillega, #SupportLocalAgriculture, #TylerHarper, #VidaliaOnionCommittee, #VidaliaOnions, #VidaliaSeason, #wzqznews, #YoungFarmers 0

The Chattooga County Young Farmers are once again offering Georgia-Grown Vidalia onions for sale as the 2026 season gets underway.

According to the group, the order deadline is April 17, with pickup tentatively planned for the last week of April. Customers can place an order through a Young Farmer member or by scanning the QR code on the sale flyer.

March 17, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

Georgia Declared Free Of Bird Flu, But Officials Urge Continued Vigilance

Local News, Local News Items #AgricultureNews, #AnimalHealth, #AvianInfluenza, #Biosecurity, #BirdFlu, #FarmNews, #GeorgiaAgriculture, #GeorgiaDepartmentOfAgriculture, #GeorgiaFarmers, #GeorgiaPoultry, #northwestgeorgia, #PoultryIndustry, #TylerHarper, #wzqznews, georgia 0

The Georgia Department of Agriculture says the state has officially been declared free of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, also known as bird flu, though officials stress that poultry growers and flock owners still need to stay on guard. Georgia regained its HPAI-free status as of March 13, allowing the state to resume exports and international trade of poultry products.

February 28, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

UGA Beef Team To Host Free Webinar On New World Screwworm Preparedness

Local News, Local News Items #AgEducation, #AgricultureNews, #CattleProducers, #chattoogacounty, #Farmers, #GeorgiaAgriculture, #GeorgiaFarmers, #LivestockHealth, #NewWorldScrewworm, #ProtectYourHerd, #Ranchers, #UGABeefTeam, #UGAExtension, #VeterinaryMedicine, #wzqznews 0

The University of Georgia Beef Team is hosting a free educational webinar to help producers and the public learn more about the New World Screwworm and how to prepare for the potential threat.

January 25, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

Avian Flu Confirmed in Second Walker County Commercial Poultry Flock; 16,000 Birds Depopulated

Local News, Local News Items #AgricultureNews, #AnimalHealth, #APHIS, #AvianInfluenza, #Biosecurity, #BroilerBreeders, #GeorgiaDepartmentOfAgriculture, #GeorgiaPoultry, #HPAI, #NorthGeorgia, #PoultryIndustry, #Quarantine, #USDA, #WalkerCounty 0

State and federal agriculture officials have confirmed Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in a second commercial poultry flock in Walker County, marking Georgia’s second detection in a commercial operation in 2026 and the fifth detection overall in the state since the nationwide outbreak began in February 2022.

January 14, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Avian Influenza Confirmed at Commercial Poultry Operation in Walker County

Local News, Local News Items #AgricultureNews, #AnimalHealth, #AvianInfluenza, #Biosecurity, #GeorgiaAgriculture, #georgianews, #HPAI, #northwestgeorgia, #PoultryIndustry, #PublicSafety, #USDA, #WalkerCounty 0

The Georgia Department of Agriculture says Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) has been confirmed at a commercial poultry operation in Walker County, marking Georgia’s first confirmed HPAI case of 2026 and the fourth case in a commercial poultry operation in the state since the nationwide outbreak began in February 2022.

State officials say the producer noticed increased mortality on Sunday, January 11, and contacted the Georgia Poultry Laboratory Network. Samples were collected and tested Monday, with the positive result confirmed by the state lab Monday evening and later confirmed by USDA’s National Veterinary Services Laboratory on Tuesday, January 13.

The Georgia Department of Agriculture’s Emergency Management Team deployed to the site to begin depopulation, disposal, cleaning, and disinfection. The affected premises housed approximately 71,264 broiler breeders, and response operations are expected to continue through the week.

A 10-kilometer (6.2-mile) quarantine zone has been established around the operation. Officials say all commercial poultry operations within that radius are under quarantine and will undergo surveillance testing for at least two weeks, and the affected premises has been secured so that only authorized personnel may enter.