Services
Field Days
UGA Cooperative Extension offers a series of field days throughout the year to help farmers, ranchers, producers and the general public hear the latest research information from the UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. Topics covered in field days include forestry, turf management, Vidalia onions, peaches, blueberries, cotton, peanuts, cattle, muscadines and more. For a list of upcoming events, check the calendar.
Testing and Diagnostic Services
The Agricultural and Environmental Services Laboratories have continuing initiatives, in concert with other research and extension faculty throughout the college and elsewhere, to develop new testing procedures using state of the art technology. They offer testing for soil analysis, plant tissue analysis, water quality, pesticides and hazardous waste, feeds and forages and special analysis.
Whether you'd like to increase your crop yield, grow healthier roses, test the quality of your drinking water, or make sure your creek isn't polluted, AESL can help. For test sample instructions, contact your county Extension office.
Trainings and Certifications
Better Brains for Babies — Better Brains for Babies is a collaboration of state and local, public and private organizations dedicated to promoting awareness and education about the importance of early brain development. Extension and Bright from the Start: Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning are co-leaders of the Better Brains for Babies initiative. FACS Extension provides regular training on early brain development to many different groups and individuals. Find out more at the Better Brains for Babies Web site.
Child Care Provider Training — Extension agents in many Georgia counties provide state-accepted training classes to help child care providers receive continuing education hours required to meet state licensing requirements. Check the FACS Extension child care training calendar for training events in your area, or contact your county agent for more information about upcoming training opportunities.
Child Care Self-Study Courses — Beginning child care providers who need basic training can sign up for one of three self-study courses in their local Extension office. Participants must complete a pre-test, view a video, complete readings and exercises in a workbook, and pass a post test in order to receive state-accepted credit. The courses include Keeping Children Safe and Well in a Child Care Center, Guiding Children Positively, and Child Development Zone. Contact your county agent for more information about self-study courses.
Child Passenger Safety Technician Training — This four-day training program, taught by Georgia Traffic Injury Prevention Institute, provides participants with the knowledge and technical skill to become a child passenger safety resource person for their community, department or organization, and to perform individual safety seat checks. Participants must successfully pass both written and practical tests to complete the program and apply for national certification as a Child Passenger Safety Technician (CPST). The GTIPI training calendar lists upcoming dates and locations for the four-day CPST training. GTIPI can also assist CPSTs who may want to earn the CPST Instructor certification.
Georgia Certified Landscape Professional — A voluntary testing program that landscape professions who have mastered a thorough knowledge and understanding of job skills required to be successful in the industry. The GCLP program was developed and endorsed by the Georgia Green Industry Association, the Georgia Turfgrass Association, the Metro Atlanta Landscape and Turf Association and the University of Georgia. For more information, visit the Georgia Certified Landscape Professional Web site.
Georgia Master Gardeners — The Georgia Master Gardener training program provides more than 40 hours of classroom and hands-on instruction in horticulture and related areas. The classes provide home gardeners with information they need to become skilled Master Gardeners. Find out more about this program at the Georgia Master Gardener Web site.
HACCP Certification Courses and Food Safety Training — As regulations against foodborne illness get tougher, the food industry must incorporate control measures into their processes and train their workers in hygiene and food safety practices. The Food Science Extension Outreach Program offers industry-specific food safety training courses to food processors in Georgia, the U.S. and internationally. View the training calendar for a list of upcoming worshops.
Riding Safely in Child Care — This two-hour training increases child care providers’ awareness of the need to transport children using current best practice recommendations. The training addresses the Georgia law, crash dynamics, types of seats, gross misuse, liability issues, and local resources. The GTIPI training calendar lists upcoming dates for this training.
ServSafe® Manager Certification Program — This training program certifies food handlers in restaurants, school, hospital and nursing home cafeterias, and other food service businesses to prevent causing or spreading foodborne illness. The ServSafe® Program is a recognized food safety sanitation course developed by The Educational Foundation of The National Restaurant Association. For more information and to see a schedule of available trainings, visit the ServSafe® Programs Web site.
SuperCrew Employee Training For Landscape Professionals — The SuperCrew series brings professional training to your location at your convenience. It was developed in cooperation with industry leaders and endorsed by professional organizations. Each DVD training is narrated in both English and Spanish and includes discussion questions and multiple-choice exams in each language. For more information on this training series, visit the SuperCrew Web site.
Urban Pest Management Program — Located on the UGA Griffin Campus, the Urban Pest Management Program responds to challenges of urban pests. They research key problems and disseminate information to those who can use it best, specifically Georgia's residents and the owners and operators of Georgia's 1,200 termite and pest control companies. They offer training for industry. A schedule of training and details can be found on the Urban Pest Management Program Web site.
