Georgians Reminded to Limit Movement of Firewood

Courtesy Georgia Department of Agriculture press office 

As the temperatures continue to drop, Georgians are using increasing amounts of firewood in fireplaces, wooden heaters and campfires. The Department would like to remind consumers to limit the movement of firewood due to potential pest and disease infestation.

Firewood can transport many invasive pests, including the emerald ash borer, Sirex woodwasp, Asian long-horned beetle and gypsy moth as well as diseases such as beech bark disease, sudden oak death and oak wilt. Infested trees can be cut, split into firewood and sent to other parts of Georgia and the US, thereby expanding the range of these pests.

Campers, hunters and others also move firewood, often hundreds of miles, before their stash is burned. Given time and right temperatures, these insect pests can leave the firewood and infest new areas before the wood is burned in a campfire. 

Due to this pest movement, several states passed regulations and quarantines on firewood. In order to prevent and control the movement of these invasive pests, it is important to follow a few simple rules when handling firewood:

• Wait to buy firewood when you reach your destination.
• Use firewood from the area where you plan to burn it.
• Do not leave any unused firewood behind.

For more information on the pest and firewood movement, please contact the Mike Evans in the Plant Protection Division at 404-586-1140.

Five "Feed My School for a Week" Participants Selected

News release issued by the Georgia Department of Agriculture press office

 

Georgia Commissioner of Agriculture Gary W. Black recently announced the five elementary schools selected for this year's Feed My School for a Week program sponsored by the Georgia Department of Agriculture and the Georgia Department of Education.

 

Colbert Elementary in Colbert, West Chatham Elementary in Savannah, Skyview Elementary in Macon, Sharon Elementary in Suwanee and Southside Elementary in Cairo are the chosen schools for this year's program. The Feed My School initiative increases awareness about the importance of proper nutrition and healthy eating while assisting schools in sourcing local produce and products.

 

"The pilot program of Feed My School was such a great success that we were encouraged to expand the program to five schools across the state," Black said. "With this program, students will discover the importance of agriculture through learning about the process that brings local produce and goods from an area farm to the cafeteria table, while at the same time receiving a healthy, delicious meal."

 

The program aims to help bridge the gap in the nutritional value and quality of food served in Georgia schools and provide more farm-to-cafeteria opportunities. The result will be healthier Georgia students, decreased barriers in farm-to-school efforts and increased awareness as students learn and experience, both educationally and nutritionally, where their food comes from.

 

During a one-week period in the spring semester, all lunches served out of each selected school's cafeteria will include 75 to 100 percent Georgia-grown food. The schools will host an agriculture guest speaker, hold taste tests for Georgia commodities and conduct an essay contest. There will also be an art contest at each school focused on a single Georgia commodity, in addition to several other education activities throughout the designated week.

Important News from the Commissioner: Antifreeze

News release issued by the Georgia Department of Agriculture press office

Georgia Commissioner of Agriculture Gary W. Black warns consumers who purchased Pentofrost ++, Pentofrost NF or Pentofrost SF branded antifreeze in Georgia to not use these products in their automobiles.

The antifreeze is not in compliance with Georgia's antifreeze laws or standards.

As a result of House Bill 40, antifreeze sold in Georgia must contain between 30 and 50 parts per million denatonium benzoate, a bittering agent. During a routine inspection of these three brands, the Department's Fuel and Measures Lab discovered these products only contain 20 parts per million denatonium benzoate, which is below the minimum level.

The antifreeze manufacturer, CRP Industries Inc., of Cranbury, NJ., is conducting  voluntary recall from all stores in Georgia. Consumers who purchased antifreeze under these brands may return it to the store of purchase for a refund.