Page 1 - 022620-Market-Bulletin

P. 1

EstablishEd 1917 a CEntury of sErviCE

Dear Subscriber:

It’s been a year of big changes to the Market Bulletin, changes intended to make
the paper more useful to you, the farmers and consumers we serve. We appreciate
100th Anniversary
1917 – 2017
the enthusiasm you’ve shown for the new categories in the Classifieds section, the
added upsells like photos and borders to make your ads stand out, the retail adver-
tising program we hope to build upon in months to come, and the expanded editori-
al content all of this allows us to offer to you.
Our aim first and foremost is to be helpful to you in buying and selling farm
goods, then informative and maybe a little entertaining. For the most part, I think
we’re getting close to the mark. I heard from a subscriber recently who said the new
and improved Market Bulletin is better than snuff, so there’s one fan.
For those of you who make use of the online component of your subscription –
either to read the digital edition, search our Classifieds or place a Classified ad – we
have another big change to announce. On March 1, we will be eliminating the need
to sign-in online using your subscriber number. This transition should not affect
your ability to access our website that day, but it’s possible we might be unavailable
for a brief time.
When we replaced our old software package last spring, we kept the old way of
logging in to make the transition easier for you. Perhaps I’m pushing you a little
farther into the sausage factory than you’d care to go, but that initial login with your
subscriber number delivered you to our website, where digital editions are stored. If
your intent was to place a Classified ad or search the Classifieds without having to
flip through the digital paper, you were required to login a second time by entering
your email address and password of your choosing, or your last name, phone num-
ber, street number and zip code. That process delivered you to a platform hosted and
maintained (securely) by our new software provider.
We received many complaints about that two-step process, so we’re eliminating
the unnecessary component.
If, upon logging in the new way, you encounter an error message that says
your account can’t be found, the reason might be:
1. We do not have a current phone number on file for you,
2. We do not have an up-to-date mailing address on file for you,
3. We do not have an email address on file for you,
4. Your subscription has expired.
All four can be easily remedied with a phone call to us at 404.656.3722. We
won’t use the information you give us to call you unnecessarily or bombard you
with unwanted emails. The only regular email correspondence you’ll receive from
us is our biweekly notice that the latest issue of the paper is available online. There
is a link on that email that allows you to unsubscribe from that campaign if you
wish. Note that you may login two ways to read the Market Bulletin online, search and enter Classified ads: (Address Tab)
We’ll update you next issue if any glitches arise. As always, we’re here if you With your Last Name, Phone Number, Street Number and Zip Code, or (Account Tab) with your subscriber number
need us. and password. Once you’ve logged in with your personal information, you may set a secure password on the “My
– Amy Carter, Editor Account” page by clicking the “Update Email and Password” link.

Growers in the ‘two Georgias’ face markedly different conditions going into spring
By Jay Jones
jay.jones@agr.georgia.gov

A wetter and warmer winter will have a significant impact on spring plant-
ing and harvesting this year as Georgia farmers and ag producers enter into the
growing season.
Pam Knox, University of Georgia climatologist, described a story of two
Georgias this spring. North Georgia is water-logged from excessive rains while
South Georgia has been relatively dry. Those differences drive the narrative for
farmers getting into their fields and orchards.
“It takes a while for the soil to dry out – especially in North Georgia because
Please deliver this paid subscription to: Published by the Ga. Department of Agriculture Gary W. Black, Commissioner early and compacting the soil with heavy machinery. Overhead irrigation protects blueberries from frost. If temperatures aren’t
we have so much clay – that I’m afraid that farmers are really going to have trou-
ble getting into the field for a while,” she said.
Knox had another concern for North Georgia farmers getting in the fields too

“Even though we’re supposed to get into fairly warm temperatures that will
dry out the surface, underneath it’s still going to be wet,” Knox said.
She said rain is expected to continue through March as the weather track
is “just kind of locked in place over North Georgia and into the Tennessee and
Ohio river valleys.”
On the flip side of the coin, parts of South Georgia have remained dry. Knox
predicted to be too low, applying water just before temperatures drop
said the warm temperatures might dry the soil out more. Though farmers won’t
can help insulate plants. The UGA Extension Service recently published
have much trouble getting into the fields, they will have to consider moisture Bulletin 1479, “Commercial Freeze Protection for Fruits and Vegetables,”
with tips for protecting crops during cold and variable months. (UGA CAES
conditions of the soil.
See TWO GEORGIAS, page 15
File Photo)

1 2 3 4 5 6