The true essence of Fort Valley State University’s mission as a land-grant institution was evident when administrators, peach growers and researchers gathered on campus recently to discuss how to improve Georgia’s peach industry.
 
The university, known as an “1890,” is charged by Congress to use its research for outreach efforts that help surrounding communities, including agribusiness leaders and farmers. At the epicenter of the state, and just miles away from campus are several top growers, who had representatives at this meeting to see how they could collaborate to improve crop production. Four local top growers account for 90 to 95 percent of the state’s peaches, said Bill McGhee, who represented Fort Valley-based Genuine Georgia.
 
“We want to keep this industry right here in Middle Georgia,” McGhee said. “Georgia is known as the Peach State and we’ve got a good name out there.”
 
Peach growers Robert Dickey of Dickey Farms in Montezuma and Duke Lane III of Lane Southern Orchards in Fort Valley also attended the meeting with McGhee to express concerns and ways to team up with the university. Like most businesses, the local companies are faced with challenges - freezing temperatures, insects, plant diseases and competition from peach growers outside the state. One major problem, they said, is after about a decade, the soil becomes unusable because plant roots create a chemical, that over time, makes the soil toxic.
 
“In Georgia, the biggest problem we have is tree survival and orchard longevity,” said Dr. Anand Yadav, a professor at Fort Valley State who began peach research more than 40 years ago. 
 
The group came up with several ideas on how to approach combating the issues discussed. For starters, the team plans to work together to apply for a federal grant. Also, FVSU scientists can conduct research using biotechnology to make the peach trees more resistant to cold weather. Molecular biology techniques can also be explored to “turn off” the peach plants’ genes that release toxic chemicals into the soil and thus decrease its plant life.
 
“FVSU has been involved in peach research for several decades. This meeting was an opportunity for us to learn firsthand about the current issues faced by peach growers in the state.  We can now refocus our applied research and outreach to better assist them,” said Govind Kannan, dean of the FVSU College of Agriculture, Family Sciences and Technology.  
 
Fort Valley State University

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