Forestry
The Extension Service is a vital division of every land grant university in the United States. Each state has a land grant university system. Mississippi State is part of the land grant university system in Mississippi. In Michigan, it's Michigan State, in Georgia it's the University of Georgia and in Pennsylvania, it's Penn State University.
As part of the land grant university system with Alcorn State University, Mississippi State has the responsibility to extend the research accomplished at the university to those in the state that can't come to the school. To do this, the Extension Service, formerly known as the Cooperative Extension Service, occupies a major division of the university. The Extension Service Director has a network of county offices throughout Mississippi that house county Extension faculty and staff who serve local clientele with information on many topics including agriculture, family and consumer sciences, economic and community resource development, and 4-H/youth development.
Extension Forestry faculty are part of the MSU Department of Forestry and serve the Extension Service through the Director and county faculty by conducting forestry educational programs, writing publications, and other educational activities.
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Curtis VanderSchaaf joined the Mississippi State University Extension Service in the southwest region as a forestry specialist with regional and statewide duties. He also is a faculty member in the MSU Department of Forestry.
Although construction costs are through the roof timber prices have not kept pace, and Mississippi forest landowners are waiting for improved markets. Shaun Tanger, a forestry economics specialist with the Mississippi State University Extension Service, said the recent increase in construction costs is a demand-side phenomena.
Many states are expecting an extra loud chorus of chirping cicadas this summer with the emergence of a massive 17-year brood of the insects, but Mississippi will not be part of this phenomenon.
STARKVILLE, Miss. -- Each February marks the occasion for producers to share their research and programming needs with Mississippi State University agricultural specialists in person.
To comply with COVID-19 social distancing guidelines, the opportunity will be extended virtually this year.
If you celebrate with a real tree, you’ll have to decide how to dispose of it once the holiday is over. You have some good options for recycling the tree instead of sending it to the landfill.
Success Stories
Flora brothers bring small-town values to big industry
Jason and Jeremy Flora have been logging so long, they may have sawdust in their veins.
Tree farmer of the Year collaborates with Extension
Bobby Watkins’s selection as the Mississippi Forestry Association’s 2015 Tree Farmer of the Year was the culmination of a career in forestry and a lifetime commitment to his family tree farm in Aberdeen. The Mississippi State University alumnus and retired forestry technical specialist for BASF now dedicates most of his time and resources to overseeing and maintaining Coontail Farm.
Football coaching legend also known for success in timber industry
To many Northeast Mississippians who played high school football between the early 1960s and the late 1980s, Ben Jones is a coaching icon.
Four Extension experts named fellows in their disciplines
Four well-respected Mississippi State University Extension Service experts were recently named fellows in prestigious academic and service organizations.
Extension agent in Pontotoc County held local meetings online in 2020
The Mississippi State University Extension Service has been part of Terry Barron’s life in many ways since she moved back to her home state more than 12 years ago.
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