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August 15, 2003 - Filed Under: Cotton

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Cotton is looking fairly good across the state despite a faltering start, but the message to growers is that their job is not over yet.

"We can't walk off and leave the crop," said Will McCarty, cotton specialist with the Mississippi State University Extension Service.

August 11, 2003 - Filed Under: Family

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- When considering clothing purchases this fall, the real challenge may be figuring out what's not in style.

Phyllis Miller, associate professor of human sciences at Mississippi State University, said "anything goes" as long as people express their own individuality in their clothing selections.

Styles...

Silver Falls dichondra makes a stunning groundcover when grown in front of flowers like these pink petunias or foliage like Mississippi Summer Sun coleus.
August 11, 2003 - Filed Under: Flower Gardens

By Norman Winter
MSU Horticulturist
Central Mississippi Research & Extension Center

Several plants caught the eyes of growers from Mississippi and surrounding states who toured the flower trials during the recent Mid-South Greenhouse Growers' Conference at the Truck Crops Branch Experiment Station near Crystal Springs.

Silver Falls dichondra was one such stunning plant that offers a most unique, silver foliage.

August 11, 2003 - Filed Under: Community

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Mississippi State University recently named Steve Turner as the new head of the Department of Agricultural Economics.

Turner came to MSU from the University of Georgia where he was an associate professor and undergraduate coordinator in the Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics. He assumed his duties at MSU Aug. 1.

August 11, 2003 - Filed Under: Pests

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- A Mississippi State University forest entomologist recently authored the Integrated Forest Pest Management section of a 246-page report by the Council for Agricultural Science and Technology.

August 11, 2003 - Filed Under: Wildlife

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Landowners and hunters can learn in-depth management techniques for planting and managing a field that will be legal to hunt and attractive to doves and other birds during an Aug. 23 event at the Black Prairie Wildlife Management Area in southern Lowndes County.

The free, three-hour demonstration begins at 9 a.m. and is co-sponsored by the Mississippi State University Extension Service and the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks. The management area is about 10 miles south of Columbus at 744 Firetower Road outside Crawford.

August 8, 2003 - Filed Under: Corn

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- While too much rain hurt corn fields in north Mississippi, the rest of the state's crop is expected to set new record yield levels.

Much cooler conditions in June and July and well above average rainfall throughout the season are responsible for the high expectations. However, the excessive rainfall did cause yield reduction in northern counties, and too much more rain during harvest could be bad news.

August 4, 2003 - Filed Under: Food and Health

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Childhood obesity in Mississippi is a growing problem, but avoiding this common problem -- or reversing its effects -- is not as difficult as it may seem.

Very minor dietary and lifestyle changes can drastically improve the physical and emotional health of overweight children, who have a staggering 70 percent likelihood of becoming overweight adults.

August 4, 2003 - Filed Under: Family Financial Management

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- American teens spend an average of $104 a week and qualify for credit cards, but they don't necessarily know how to handle financial opportunity.

According to the Jump$tart Coalition for Personal Financial Literacy, high school graduates have the earning potential to make more than $1 million in their lifetime. When freshmen enter college, most have at least two credit cards, and by the time they graduate, they are carrying $20,402 in education loan and credit card debt.

Bob L. Karr
August 4, 2003 - Filed Under: Community

STARKVILLE -- Bob L. Karr, associate dean for Mississippi State University's College of Forest Resources and associate director for the Forest and Wildlife Research Center, has been named interim dean and interim director.

Vance Watson, vice president for the Division of Agriculture, Forestry and Veterinary Medicine and George Verrall, the university's provost, announced the interim appointment effective June 9. This is the third time that Karr has served in an interim capacity in the college and center.

Make your beds large enough so that a grass like this Japanese Silver Grass can reach its true potential.
August 4, 2003 - Filed Under: Lawn and Garden

By Norman Winter
MSU Horticulturist
Central Mississippi Research & Extension Center

In just a few short weeks, many gardeners are going to be jealous of their neighbors simply because of ornamental grass.

Growing ornamental grass is a lot easier than you think. The first suggestion would be to make beds large enough that the grasses can reach their full potential in size and elegance.

August 1, 2003 - Filed Under: Soybeans

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Mississippi soybean growers are looking in August at a potentially record-setting crop for the third consecutive year. They are hoping rains will hold off to make this year the charm.

Late-season rains in 2001 and 2002 doused opportunities to surpass the 34 bushel per acre record of 1992. However, growers managed to average 33 and 32 bushels per acre despite weather conditions those years.

July 28, 2003 - Filed Under: Children and Parenting

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Adults can change a job environment that is unsuitable, but children have no such option when it comes to their 8-to-5 lives.

All children need to spend their time where they are safe and will thrive. For healthy development to occur, children must be talked to, played with, and given love and attention.

The dark blue-violet of Sunny Border Blue Veronica partners well with Goldsturm rudbeckia and the light blue Russian sage.
July 28, 2003 - Filed Under: Flower Gardens

By Norman Winter
MSU Horticulturist
Central Mississippi Research & Extension Center

Occasionally I am guilty of pronouncing a plant a failure without giving it a second year or a better garden location. I preach otherwise, but it still happens. Probably you would admit to making this mistake, too.

July 28, 2003 - Filed Under: Biofuels

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Researchers at Mississippi State University are converting grasses and agricultural waste into energy, hoping to lower ethanol's cost enough to compete with gasoline as a fuel.

Researchers at MSU and Oklahoma State University are pursuing the conversion of biomass from switchgrass or agricultural byproducts into energy. This energy is in the form of either biofuels, such as ethanol, or electricity.

July 25, 2003 - Filed Under: Wheat

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- An average crop may not seem worth bragging about without considering the obstacles growers faced along the way.

Mississippi's wheat harvest concluded in June much as it started last fall: in the rain. Growers posted yields near the five-year average despite rainy conditions all along the way.

July 21, 2003 - Filed Under: 4-H Shooting Sports

MISSISSIPPI STATE --Developing responsibility, sportsmanship and self-discipline is the No. 1 priority of Mississippi's 4-H shooting sports program.

"Most people probably think our first goal is to teach kids to hunt and shoot," said Ben West, Mississippi State University Extension Service assistant wildlife specialist. "But that's not true. Our No. 1 goal is to teach discipline, concentration and other skills young people can use in the future."

The Gold Star esperanza produces yellow, bell-shaped flowers from spring until frost and attracts hummingbirds and butterflies.
July 21, 2003 - Filed Under: Flower Gardens

By Norman Winter
MSU Horticulturist
Central Mississippi Research & Extension Center

Yellow bells, or Gold Star esperanza, has become a hot plant in the past couple of years. As a testament to its showy nature, people are buying it despite not knowing much about it.

July 21, 2003 - Filed Under: About Extension

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Plans for a new 30,000 square foot horticulture laboratory complex were unveiled during July 11 ceremonies at the South Mississippi Branch Experiment Station in Poplarville.

The $10 million Pearl River County facility will house research laboratories and offices for U.S. Department of Agriculture and Mississippi State University personnel. The laboratories will be used for ornamental horticulture and small fruit research. Construction will begin later this year.

July 21, 2003 - Filed Under: Beef

HATTIESBURG -- South Mississippi cattle producers are counting on (market) strength in numbers as well as the quality of their heifers to bring a more satisfying experience for buyers and sellers alike at an upcoming sale.

With the aid of Mississippi State University's Extension Service, a group of 25 cattle producers are planning a bred and open heifer sale in the Southeast Mississippi Sale Barn at 1 p.m. on Aug. 30. The barn is on Highway 49 North in Hattiesburg.

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