Natural Resources
Streams, ponds, and rivers. Forestlands, farmlands, and wetlands. Wildlife and fisheries. Mississippi has abundant and diverse natural resources, and many people in the state leverage these resources for business and pleasure. The MSU Extension Service works with stakeholders, state agency partners, and citizens of all ages to explore, study, manage, and conserve these natural resources while finding ways to put them to use in positive ways.
Publications
News
Did you know hummingbirds flap their wings 50 to 70 times a minute? (Photo by Canva)
Everyone loves Ruby-throated hummingbirds! I have fond memories of watching these hummingbirds visit the many feeders my grandparents put out each year. You probably have a similar story! Hummingbirds are fascinating creatures, with their bold-colored feathers and fast-fluttering wings.
STARKVILLE, Miss. -- When planting loblolly pine trees on well-drained soils, landowners should heed two basic rules: Don’t do it during a freeze, and make sure to plant roots and seedlings deep.
To increase the chance of survival on well-drained soils, some Southern regeneration foresters suggest planting loblolly pine in a deep hole with the root collar several inches below the soil surface.
STARKVILLE, Miss. -- Mississippi in the springtime has to be the prettiest place on Earth; flowers are blooming, hardwood trees are budding and flowering, songbirds are singing, and wild turkeys are mating. This is a special time and my favorite time of year.
The blue jay will sound its loud call, “jay, jay,” to alert other birds of a predator in the area. (Photo from Canva)
Blue jays are easy to recognize by both their noisy call and bold blue feathers. Also known as jaybirds, blue jays are members of the crow family and native to the United States.
RAYMOND, Miss. -- Private timberland owners spend countless hours caring for and maintaining their property, and many are unaware that this investment can help lower their tax bills. One of the most overlooked timber activities that qualifies for a tax reduction is reforestation, said Curtis VanderSchaaf, forestry specialist with the Mississippi State University Extension Service.
Success Stories
On the surface, the Mississippi Aquarium may seem like just a fun destination where people can learn about and get an up-close look at aquatic life and other wildlife. But the purpose of the aquarium is much more profound.
Brian Andrus irrigated exactly zero times on his Sunflower County farm in 2021. He didn’t even turn on his well.
The benefits of prescribed burns on Jim Currie’s longleaf pine land in Hancock County were short-lived. He needed something extra to keep the understory vegetation from growing back so quickly.
Annual forestry show gathers industry, highlights best logging practices
Year after year, the Mid-South Forestry Equipment Show attracts thousands of visitors. Canceled in 2020, as most large gatherings were because of the COVID pandemic, the show opened in 2021 with about 3,500 former and new attendees ready to discover the latest forestry equipment, safety guidelines, and timber-harvesting methods.
Training a priority for third-generation logger
Logging can be a dangerous profession, but Brian Smith makes safety a priority.
