Dade County UGA Extension

10/08/2026

Registration is open! Food trucks on site for lunch, raffle prizes and more! You do not need to be a member to attend

10/08/2026

09/23/2026

Perilla mint, Perilla frutescens, also known as the Beefsteak Plant, is often the only thing lush in a dry summer and fall. It is an invasive annual w**d that has toxic principles to livestock. Perilla mint thrives in disturbed areas and is commonly found along fence lines, woodland edges, creek banks, and shaded portions of pastures. It also tends to establish around hay rings, feedlots, barns, and other areas where livestock traffic disturbs the soil providing fertile conditions that favor rapid plant growth and seed production. Most animal losses occur in late summer/early fall which coincides with flowering and seed production. The amount it takes to cause problems is uncertain. Livestock owners should learn to recognize this w**d. First comment has link to UGA Extension Identifying Toxic Weeds in Georgia Pastures and Hayfields. There are many plants in that reference that were abundant this summer. Don't stop after perilla mint maybe see johnsongrass or h**p dogbane or milkw**d or horsenettle. Photo: (L) Perilla Mint leaves, Chris Evans, University of Illinois. (R) Perilla Mint flowers are white to purple, Marisa Williams, University of Arkansas.

09/23/2026

We are super excited to be starting a Middle School 4-H Club and meetings will start in October! Middle school students can walk down to the Ag Center after school and if any homeschool age middle school students would like to attend, they are more than welcome to attend as well. Please see the flyer for more details and the dates of the meetings are below (All meetings will be on a Wednesday):
October 21
November 18
December 16
January 27
February 17
March 24
April 21

09/10/2026

For the best available resources on the Pasture Mealybug, please visit the Georgia Forage Team’s PMB hub by clicking the button below.

09/03/2026

🌱 Pasture mealybug has arrived in Georgia, with the first confirmed detection reported in the southwest corner of the state.

UGA Extension forage specialists have been working around the clock to track the newly arrived pest and establish the best management options for Georgia producers.

Here's what you can do:

▪️ Clean farm and hay equipment between fields or farms.
▪️ Avoid unnecessary driving through pastures.
▪️ Change footwear and clothing after visiting a suspected infestation.
▪️ Keep grazing records and avoid moving livestock into or through affected pastures.
▪️ Limit traffic onto farms when possible.

➡️ More at the link in the comments!

08/18/2026

The Master Cattlemen’s Program delivers a practical, science-based production management curriculum to Georgia’s beef producers. University of Georgia Extension Agents work with industry experts to deliver classes on beef cattle topics such as nutrition, facilities, forages, economics, marketing...

08/17/2026

Don't forget to register for the Northwest Georgia Master Cattlemen's Program taking place right here in Chattooga County!
We are excited to host the Master Cattlemen's Program this year right here in Chattooga County in collaboration with the UGA Beef Team.
Registration ends September 8th, so be sure to register soon to save your spot!
You can stop by and register in person at our office or visit https://beef.caes.uga.edu/programs/educational/master-cattleman/ to register online!