#UGAExtension | AM 1180 Radio

August 2, 2026

Chattooga County Extension To Host 2026 Northwest Georgia Master Cattlemen’s Program

Local News, Local News Items #agriculture, #BeefCattle, #chattoogacounty, #ChattoogaCountyExtension, #ChattoogaInfo, #GeorgiaAgriculture, #MasterCattlemensProgram, #northwestgeorgia, #summervillega, #UGAExtension, #WZQZ, #wzqznews 0

The Chattooga County Extension Office is now accepting registrations for the 2026 Northwest Georgia Master Cattlemen’s Program, an educational series designed for cattle producers looking to expand their knowledge and improve herd management.

The program will be held Monday evenings at 6:00 p.m. at the Chattooga County Agricultural Center, located at 40 Middle School Road in Summerville.

The registration fee is $100, which includes all in-person sessions, educational materials, a UGA Beef hat, and meals. The registration deadline is September 8.

The Master Cattlemen’s Program is offered through UGA Extension and covers a variety of topics related to beef cattle production and management.

Those interested can register online through the UGA Beef Team website or contact the Chattooga County Extension Office at 706-857-0744 for additional information or assistance with registration.

July 29, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Chattooga County Extension Encourages Producers To Have Hay Tested

Local News, Local News Items #CattleProducers, #chattoogacounty, #ChattoogaCountyExtension, #ChattoogaInfo, #FarmNews, #ForageTesting, #GeorgiaAgriculture, #HaySeason, #Livestock, #northwestgeorgia, #UGAExtension, #WZQZ, #wzqznews 0

Chattooga County Extension is encouraging livestock producers to have their hay and other stored forage tested while this year’s hay crop is being harvested.

Forage testing provides information about the nutritional value and overall quality of hay, helping producers make better decisions when developing feeding programs for times when fresh grass is unavailable. Hay quality can significantly affect livestock health, growth, performance and the amount of supplemental feed needed during the winter.

University of Georgia Extension specialists say appearance alone cannot reliably determine the nutritional value of a particular supply of hay. A laboratory analysis can measure factors such as crude protein, fiber, digestibility and total digestible nutrients, allowing producers to build a feeding plan around the actual needs of their animals.

A representative sample is important for accurate results. UGA recommends using a clean forage probe and collecting samples from multiple randomly selected bales rather than simply pulling hay from the outside of a bale.

With hay now being cut and stored across the area, Chattooga County Extension says this is a good time for producers to test their forage and begin planning for the upcoming winter feeding season.

July 23, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

UGA Students Develop AI Tool To Help Georgia Farmers Reduce Paperwork

Local News, Local News Items #agriculture, #ArtificialIntelligence, #ChattoogaInfo, #FarmTechnology, #FieldLog, #GeorgiaAgriculture, #GeorgiaFarmers, #Google, #Innovation, #PrecisionAgriculture, #UGA, #UGAExtension, #UniversityOfGeorgia, #WZQZ, #wzqznews, georgia 0

University of Georgia students are helping Georgia farmers spend less time behind a desk and more time in the field through a new artificial intelligence-powered platform called FieldLog.

July 19, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Home Gardeners Report Poor Tomato Harvests Across Northwest Georgia

Local News, Local News Items #chattoogacounty, #ChattoogaCountyExtension, #ChattoogaInfo, #GardenTips, #GeorgiaGardening, #GrowYourOwnFood, #HomeGardening, #northwestgeorgia, #summervillega, #Tomatoes, #UGAExtension, #VegetableGardening, #WZQZ, #wzqznews 0

Many home gardeners across Chattooga County and Northwest Georgia are finding that this year’s tomato crop hasn’t lived up to expectations. While tomato plants may appear healthy, many are producing fewer tomatoes than normal, dropping blossoms before fruit develops, or producing fruit that cracks, rots, or ripens unevenly.

July 8, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

UGA Extension Bringing Master Cattlemen’s Program to Chattooga County This Fall

Local News, Local News Items #agriculture, #BeefCattle, #Cattle, #chattoogacounty, #ChattoogaCountyExtension, #Farmers, #GeorgiaAgriculture, #July82026, #Livestock, #MasterCattlemensProgram, #northwestgeorgia, #UGAExtension, #WednesdayJuly82026, #WZQZ, #wzqznews 0

Cattle producers across Northwest Georgia will have an opportunity to expand their knowledge and improve herd management this fall as the University of Georgia Extension brings the 2026 Northwest Georgia Master Cattlemen’s Program to Chattooga County.

The eight-week program begins Monday, September 14, and will meet each Monday at 6 p.m. through November 2 at the Chattooga County Agricultural Center.

Participants will hear from University of Georgia specialists and industry experts on a wide range of topics, including beef quality assurance, herd selection, cattle economics and marketing, herd health management, parasite control, facilities, nutrition, reproductive management and forage management.

The registration fee is $100 and includes a notebook, program hat and meals. Registration is open through September 8.

To register, call the Chattooga County Extension Office at 706-857-0744, scan the QR code on the program flyer or visit bit.ly/49yrFld.

Extension officials say the program is designed for both new and experienced cattle producers looking to strengthen their management skills and improve the profitability of their operations.

July 4, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

UGA Extension Offers Food Safety Tips for Fourth of July Cookouts

Local News, Local News Items #chattoogacounty, #ChattoogaInfo, #CookoutSafety, #FoodSafety, #FoodThermometer, #FourthOfJuly, #GeorgiaExtension, #GrillingSafety, #HealthyEating, #IndependenceDay, #northwestgeorgia, #SummerGrilling, #UGAExtension, #WZQZ, #wzqznews, #YourHometownRadioStation 0

As families across Chattooga County and Northwest Georgia fire up their grills for Independence Day celebrations, the University of Georgia Cooperative Extension is reminding everyone that food safety should be just as important as the menu.

June 18, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Chattooga County Extension Urges Public To Watch For Spotted Lanternfly

Local News, Local News Items #chattoogacounty, #ChattoogaCountyExtension, #EnvironmentalNews, #GeorgiaAgriculture, #GeorgiaForestry, #InvasiveSpecies, #LocalNews, #northwestgeorgia, #PestAlert, #ProtectOurTrees, #SpottedLanternfly, #summervillega, #UGAExtension, #wzqznews 0

Chattooga County Extension is asking residents to be on the lookout for the spotted lanternfly, an invasive insect that can cause serious damage to trees, crops, and ornamental plants.

May 26, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

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 23, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Spots Still Available For Chattooga County Food Preservation Workshops

Community Calandar, Community Calendar, Local News, Local News Items #Canning, #chattoogacounty, #CommunityWorkshops, #CowboyCandy, #FoodPreservation, #JamsAndJellies, #LocalNews, #northwestgeorgia, #PickledOkra, #SummervilleGeorgia, #UGAExtension, #wzqznews 0

Chattooga County Extension Agent Rebecca Thomas says there are still spots available for several upcoming food preservation workshops being offered through the Chattooga County Extension Office.

The hands-on classes will cover a variety of food preservation topics throughout the summer and early fall, including jams and jellies, canning tomatoes and salsa, cowboy candy, and pickled okra.

Each workshop costs $25 per class, and attendance is limited to 15 participants. Officials say payment is required to secure registration.

Upcoming workshop dates include:

Jams & Jellies — June 2 from 1 p.m. until 3 p.m.
Canning Tomatoes & Salsa — July 1 from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m.
Cowboy Candy — August 4 from 1 p.m. until 3 p.m.
Pickled Okra — September 24 from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m.

All workshops will be held at the Chattooga County Extension Office located at 40 Middle School Road in Summerville.

For registration information, call 706-857-0744.

May 5, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Chattooga County Extension Offering Summer Food Preservation Workshops

Community Calandar, Community Calendar, Local News, Local News Items #Canning, #chattoogacounty, #CommunityEvents, #CookingClasses, #CowboyCandy, #FarmToTable, #FoodPreservation, #FoodSkills, #GeorgiaExtension, #HomeCanning, #HomeSkills, #Homesteading, #JamsAndJellies, #LearnLocal, #LocalWorkshops, #northwestgeorgia, #PickledOkra, #Pickling, #PreserveYourFood, #SalsaMaking, #summervillega, #TomatoCanning, #UGAExtension, #wzqznews 0

Residents in Chattooga County will have the opportunity to learn hands-on food preservation skills this summer through a series of workshops hosted by the UGA Extension Office.

The classes, led by Chattooga County Extension Agent Rebecca Thomas, will cover a variety of popular home preservation techniques and recipes, including jams, jellies, canning, and pickling.

Workshops begin June 2 with a session on Jams & Jellies from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. Additional classes include:

Canning Tomatoes & Salsa on July 1 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.
Cowboy Candy on August 4 from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.
Pickled Okra on September 24 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.

Each class costs $25, and space is limited to 15 participants per session. Officials say payment is required to secure registration.

All workshops will be held at the Chattooga County Extension Office, located at 40 Middle School Road in Summerville.

To register or for more information, call 706-857-0744.