For eight years, University of Georgia Cooperative Extension county agents have used digital im ages, computers and e-mails to quickly diagnose insect and disease problems. Now a UGA team has installed their system in Honduras to protect U.S. farmers and consumers. Called Distance Diagnostics through Digital Imaging, the system is in most UGA Extension county offices statewide. UGA shared the technology with 12 other U.S. land-grant universities and then added Honduras as its first international partner. Article published in The University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences 2007 Environmental Report

The County Agent as part of a Central American DDDI Consortium (formed in 2003), has provided vision, visibility, and leadership to expand this technology transfer project to now several other Central American countries as well as two more secondary school sites (Jasper County High School and Indian Creek Middle School/Newton County). Article published in The University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Impact Statements System

Personal contacts with producers, county agents, and agents of the Department of Natural Resources were made to diagnose aquaculture problems and recommend specific cures. Case studies and sample submissions were received at Tifton in order to address aquatic problems. The Distance Diagnostic System was used, when possible, to increase the efficiency of case submission and response. Workshops were held to educate County Extension Agents about fish diseases, culture methods for catfish, freshwater shrimp, sportfish pond management, and aquatic weed control. Article published in The University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Impact Statements System

Utilizing the Digtal Distance Diagnostics System the Madison County Extension Agent identified disease problems in a local nursery and made recommendations that saved them thousands of dollars in plant losses. Article published in The University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Impact Statements System

Timely identification of snap bean problems saved Webster County growers significant costs due to the recommendation to delay replanting until soil temperatures had declined. The Extension Coordinator worked with the three snap bean growers in the county when the snap beans began dying. Samples were taken and shipped to the Tifton Plant Disease Clinic, while digital images were sent by DDDI to appropriate specialists. Article published in The University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Impact Statements System

Assistance was provided to county agents, fish farmers, local governments, and public agencies in order to diagnose aquaculture, pond, and water quality problems and to recommend solutions for management. Through personal contacts and workshops, over 7,000 people were assisted in the past year. By using the Distance Diagnostics System, digital images, and site visits when needed, accurate diagnosis of disease and water quality problems can be provided in a short time, sometimes as short as a few minutes. Article published in The University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Impact Statements System

Peach County Extension Agent diagnosed disease on greenhouse grower's starter plugs. Diagnosis allowed grower to be compensated for poor quality plugs and allowed him to avoid production delays and loss of sales. The agent collected plugs from this shipment as well and evaluated them at his office using DDDI equipment. Microscope slides were prepared and examined using the DDDI equipment. The Peach County Agent identified Pythium sp in the plugs he collected. Pythium is a common disease problem in ornamental plant production but should not have been on new plugs. Article published in The University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Impact Statements System

White grubs populations were high in home lawns and pastures during the fall of 2006 in Catoosa County. Identification and control control recomendations from Extension Agent helped both homeowners and farmers minimize their damage. Using DDDI microscopes, the Agent identified the grubs as Green June Beetles. After consulting with Dr. Will Hudson, Extension Entomologist, a spray application to reduce the population was recommended. Article published in The University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Impact Statements System

The freshwater environment in Georgia includes lakes, ponds, streams, and swamps on private lands that utilize the Cooperative Extension Service for technical assistance and problem solving. Over 1,400 requests for assistance and calls were answered during 2006. Estimated total impact of this activity exceeded $3,000,000 in 2006. The Distance Diagnostic System was used, when possible, to increase the efficiency of case submission and response. Workshops were held to educate County Extension Agents about fish diseases, culture methods for catfish, freshwater shrimp, sportfish pond management, and aquatic weed control. Article published in The University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Impact Statements System

Extension agent Tim Hall used to wait up to a week to give a farmer a diagnosis of a problem in the field. Today, he takes a picture of the problem and sends it via e-mail to a cadre of University of Georgia experts who can get him an answer in a matter of minutes. "It's very important to the farmer that a problem gets identified in a timely manner," Hall says. "The longer you delay control, the more yield you can lose." Article published in The Peanut Farmer

You had a problem in your field or yard. So you sent a sample to the University of Georgia plant disease diagnostic clinics. And then you waited. It's hard to wait while your wilted plant or bagged bug finds its way through the mail. But you and other Georgia farmers and home gardeners, who have submitted more than 4,000 samples each year, haven't had much choice. That will soon change. Article published in UGA CAES FACES