UGA Extension, Morgan County GA

10/02/2026

09/25/2026

Thankful for the folks in Morgan County that are trying to preserve our farmland. Farmland preservation is an issue that affects everyone, whether they realize it or not!

Farmland is disappearing in the United States by thousands of acres each year.

More of that land is being developed, and the Farm Bureau's Zippy Duvall warns that we will soon hit a point of no return.

"Development can bring jobs and investment, but we must consider the long-term impact. Once farmland is coved by roads, building, and infrastructure, it is unlikely to return to agriculture. The best way to preserve farmland is to make sure farmers and ranchers can afford to keep farming it," he states.

Last year, America lost 15,000 farms, marking a seven year streak. That is an 8% drop overall.

09/23/2026

Have your ordered you fresh produce yet? It's not too late!
Support local youth and feed your family (or a neighbor in need!) with the Morgan County 4-H Front Door Produce Box Fundraiser.
Each $35 box is packed with high-quality, Georgia-grown produce. It's a delicious way to enjoy fresh, locally sourced food while supporting our 4-H programs, leadership activities, scholarships, and hands-on agricultural education.
🎁 Spread the Goodness: Not in town or want to give back? You can choose to donate a $35 box directly to a local family in need!
🗓️ Deadline: Don't wait—all orders and donations must be submitted before the November 2nd deadline!
PICK UP WILL BE DURING THE WEEK OF NOV 16th AT THE MORGAN COUNTY EXTENSION OFFICE AT 440 HANCOCK STREET, MADISON.
👉 Order yours today: https://frontdoorproduce.com/products/georgia-4-h-produce-box-fundraiser-morgan-county

09/21/2026

Morgan County’s own Lee Nunn was featured by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution to talk about how high diesel prices are affecting Georgia’s farmers.

https://editions.ajc.com/shortcode/AJC412/edition/a7d075af-5fe3-f6fa-e81d-0a882c0803b3?page=2cf62b57-f85f-ef2a-443f-cb03dabb59f8&

Saturday, September 19, 2026

09/08/2026

Want fresh, GEORGIA GROWN, quality produce delivered locally while supporting the youth in our community?

We have once again partnered with Front Door Produce to bring you boxes of delicious, GEORGIA GROWN, farm-fresh veggies—with every purchase (ordered through our county specific link) directly supporting Morgan County 4-H! Your order helps fund leadership opportunities, hands-on education, and essential life skills that ensure our youth are Beyond Ready for the future!

How to order: https://frontdoorproduce.com/products/georgia-4-h-produce-box-fundraiser-morgan-county

If you prefer to order in person, come by Morgan Co. Extension Office between 8am-12pm or 1pm-5pm (cash or check only please!)

Order Deadline: November 2nd, 2026

Pick Up Details: Produce will be delivered from Front Door Produce to our office during the week of November 16th. We will contact you with specific pick-up date/time once we have boxes on site.
Pick up Location: 440 Hancock Street, Madison

What’s Included
Each $35 produce box may include a seasonal assortment of fresh vegetables such as:
Bell peppers
Cucumbers
Green beans
Cabbage
Corn
Zucchini
Yellow squash
Jalapeños
Other fresh vegetables based on seasonal availability

Pay It Forward! While ordering a box for yourself, please note that you can also bless a family in need by purchasing a box for donation!

If you have any questions about Front Door Produce or Morgan County 4-H, please send us a message! We appreciate all of your support! THANK YOU!

08/29/2026

In late July, the Commodity Commission Ex-Officio Committee met to make appointments to the Georgia Cotton Commission Board of Directors. Morgan County cotton farmer John Ruark, Toombs County cotton farmer Chris Hopkins, and Bulloch County cotton farmer Greg Sikes were each reappointed to another th...

07/09/2026

Want to make a difference in the life of a young person while gaining skills and professional experience?

Morgan County is now accepting applications to serve as a half-time AmeriCorps State member with Georgia 4-H. Individuals must commit to a year of service from September 1, 2026 – August 31, 2027, and log at least 900 hours.

AmeriCorps is a federally funded national service program modeled after the PeaceCorps, allowing U.S. citizens to serve their country at home, meet a critical community need, gain professional experience, and earn an education award upon successful completion in the amount of $3,697.50 to pay for tuition or pay back federal loans. Members also receive a modest monthly living allowance ($1037.50) and are eligible for loan forbearance.
AmeriCorps State members provide direct services to the 4-H population. AmeriCorps positions are temporary service positions, not permanent employment. AmeriCorps members serving with Georgia 4-H provide direct services to youth. At a minimum, members will facilitate in-school educational club meetings, assist with 4-H Project Achievement, and recruit volunteers. Most members also attend summer camp, develop and lead community service projects, and assist with other direct programming in the county, such as judging teams and state-wide events.

To apply, candidates must submit an application through the University of Georgia and in the My AmeriCorps Portal.
University of Georgia | 4-H Morgan County AmeriCorps State Member, Part-time
https://my.americorps.gov/mp/listing/viewListing.do?fromSearch=true&id=84538

If you have any questions regarding this position, email [email protected]

07/04/2026

Today, we are going to discuss the dairy industry and how it has changed over the years. Have you ever hand-milked a cow? Or churned your own butter? For generations, hand-milking and churning butter were routine chores on farms across America. Over the last 250 years, advancements in equipment, genetics, and animal care have revolutionized the dairy industry.
Dairy cows themselves are highly efficient animals. They are one of the most efficient livestock animals that we have. Over the years, we have continued to maximize their productivity. According to the Dairy Herd Management, “The modern U.S. dairy cow is a biological marvel. Compared to her midcentury predecessors, she produces five times more nutrition while using 65% less water and requiring 90% less land.” In other words, they produce more with less. Today, on average, one single Holstein cow can produce between 23,000 and 28,000 pounds of milk a year. These numbers were obtained by breeding for superior genetics, specialized nutrition, improved animal health practices, and innovations in dairy management. The dairy cow became a specialized animal rather than the multi-purpose bovine of years past.
One of the most notable changes in the dairy industry is the way that we milk. Everything used to be done by hand. In the 1800s, the use of the Mehring Milking Machine revolutionized the way that we milk cows. According to the Museum of the Grand Prairie, “Mehring’s machine could milk two cows at once. A cow stood on each side of the machine with the seat toward their heads and the pump adjacent to their udders. While seated, an operator pushed the pedal bar back and forth to create suction.” We moved from tie stall milking to parlor style milking, where the technology continued to advance. Introducing a suction apparatus for each teat on a cow. Today, we have advanced so far that we have automated milking machines that require little human labor and can track total milk volume as well as the yield from each individual quarter of the udder.
The number of dairy operations has also changed. According to Georgia Milk Producers, Georgia currently has 67 dairy farms. According to the Dairy Alliance, in 2021, five years ago, Georgia had 130 dairy farms. Morgan County currently has 5. Even though we have so few farms, we are ranked 5th in the state for dairy production, according to the 2024 University of Georgia Farm Gate survey. This just goes to show that even though the number of operations has decreased, production yield continues to increase due to production efficiency and technological advancements. 🐮🧀🍶🚜🐄
Thank you to the Williams Dairy for providing these pictures for this post!

07/03/2026

In celebration of the 250th anniversary of the United States of America, we are going to look at how agriculture has changed since 1776. Agriculture has been and always will be the backbone of our country, and just like everything, ag has changed and evolved over the years. According to the George W. Bush Institute, “Back in 1776, when the Founders first signed the Declaration of Independence, around 95% of U.S. citizens worked directly in agricultural pursuits.” Today, only 1.2% of the population is involved in direct on-farm employment. There is a saying in agriculture, “The 1% is feeding the other 99%.” Due to that shift, American farmers had to find more efficient ways to farm. One of the ways that we accomplished that was the invention of the tractor and heavy machinery. In early production operations, mules and horses were the machines of the farm. In the 1900s, there were 21 million horses and mules in the US. In Georgia, there were 127,000 horses & 406,00 mules. Plowing, planting, cultivating, and harvesting took intensive time and labor. One of the most well-known equipment companies in agriculture is John Deere. Most notable for their bright green equipment. John Deere was a blacksmith born in 1804. In 1837, John Deere solved an ongoing problem that Midwestern farmers were having: sticky, thick soil. He solved that problem with his revolutionary horse-drawn steel plow, and from there, the company continued to grow.
Equipment and technology have revolutionized farming and helped producers become more efficient. Tractors are now equipped with precision technology and GPS. We have drones, sensors, and other tools that gather useful data. Horsepower has come a long way in the last 250 years. Horses and mules do still play a role in America's farming system, but today, producers have access to equipment that can accomplish work in a day what used to take weeks. 🌾🌽🐴🚜