#GeorgiaAgriculture | AM 1180 Radio

May 26, 2026

Drought May Impact Chattooga County Hay Quality And Yields

Local News, Local News Items #chattoogacounty, #ChattoogaCountyExtension, #DroughtImpact, #FarmNews, #ForageTesting, #GeorgiaAgriculture, #HayQuality, #HaySeason, #LivestockFeed, #northwestgeorgia, #UGAExtension, #wzqznews 0

Chattooga County Extension officials say hay is finally being cut across much of the county, but recent drought conditions could have a noticeable impact on both yield and quality this season.

According to Chattooga County Extension, the dry weather may lead to lower hay yields, reduced nutritional value, and more weeds in local hay fields. Officials say that makes forage testing especially important for farmers and livestock owners who depend on hay for feed.

Extension officials say producers should not assume the quality of their forage without proper testing. Hay testing can help determine key values such as protein percentage, total digestible nutrients, and relative forage quality.

Those numbers can help livestock owners better understand whether their hay will meet nutritional needs or whether additional feed supplements may be necessary.

Farmers are encouraged to test hay as it is harvested and review the results carefully before relying on it through the season.

More information is available through the Chattooga County Extension Office.

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 30, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Chattooga Extension Encourages Farmers to Review Drought Management Resource

Local News, Local News Items #AgProducers, #chattoogacounty, #ChattoogaExtension, #DroughtConditions, #DroughtManagement, #Farmers, #FarmPlanning, #GeorgiaAgriculture, #LivestockCare, #northwestgeorgia, #SoilHealth, #WaterConservation, #WednesdayApril292026, #wzqznews 0

The Chattooga County Extension Office is urging local agricultural producers to review a USDA Forest Service resource focused on drought conditions and land management strategies.

April 27, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

First Farm Stand Card Program Kicks Off In Chattooga County

Local News, Local News Items #chattoogacounty, #CommunityNews, #FarmStandCard, #GeorgiaAgriculture, #LocalFarms, #ShopLocal, #summervillega, #SupportLocal, #wzqznews 0

The Chattooga County Young Farmers Association is launching its first Farm Stand Card program during the months of May and June, giving residents a fun way to support local farmers and farm stands.

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.

April 1, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

Applications Open for 2026 Georgia Centennial Farm Program

Local News, Local News Items #agriculture, #ApplyNow, #CentennialFarm, #chattoogacounty, #FamilyFarms, #FarmHeritage, #FarmHistory, #FarmLife, #GADepartmentOfAgriculture, #GeorgiaAgriculture, #GeorgiaCentennialFarm, #GeorgiaFarms, #LocalFarms, #LocalNews, #northwestgeorgia, #RuralGeorgia, #UGAExtension, #wzqznews 0

Applications are now being accepted for the 2026 Georgia Centennial Farm Program, which honors farms that have been in the same family for 100 years or more.

March 29, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

Invasive Hornets Pose Growing Threat In Georgia, Officials Urge Residents To Be Alert

Local News, Local News Items #agriculture, #Beekeeping, #BeePopulation, #CommunityAwareness, #EnvironmentalAlert, #GeorgiaAgriculture, #georgianews, #HornetAlert, #InvasiveSpecies, #northwestgeorgia, #PublicSafety, #SpringAlert, #statenews, #wzqznews, #YellowLeggedHornet 0

Georgia officials are continuing to warn residents about the growing threat posed by the invasive yellow-legged hornet, a species that can create serious problems for honeybees, agriculture, and the environment.

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.