News

The holidays are quickly approaching, and little ones have begun the eager countdown to Christmas morning. A tradition in many families is to write a letter to Saint Nick, and many tech-savvy children are turning to the Internet to get their letters to Santa in on time.

MISSISSIPPI STATE – Researchers at Mississippi State University have found a cost-effective and environmentally friendly strategy for fighting one of the most serious soil-borne diseases in poinsettia production.

Pythium stem and root rot is a common problem in poinsettia production because the fungus thrives in cool, saturated and poorly drained soils, said Maria Tomaso-Peterson, associate research professor in MSU’s Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Entomology and Plant Pathology.

I think my garden plants have enjoyed the cooler temps of autumn as much as I have enjoyed them. As the weather becomes colder, we need to think about protecting our garden plants.

Gardeners pay close attention to weather predictions of cold temperatures. We often use the terms “frost” and “freeze” interchangeably because both refer to cold temperature events. In reality, a frost and a freeze are completely different things.

FLOWOOD – The holidays are full of tasty treats, glittery decorations and shiny new toys, but for pets these things could mean big trouble.

And for pet owners, that may mean emergency trips to the veterinarian.

“During the holidays, we see a lot of emergencies,” said Dr. J. Darrell Phillips, hospital administrator of Animal Emergency and Referral Center in Flowood, an affiliate of Mississippi State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine.

Tablet computers burst into the technology market a little less than two years ago with the launch of Apple’s iPad tablet. The iPad tablets account for nearly 80 percent of the tablet market, but other manufacturers, like Amazon, Motorola, Samsung and Toshiba, are introducing their newest version of the tablet just in time for the holiday season.

MISSISSIPPI STATE – Two student-sponsored sales at Mississippi State University will offer shoppers many choices of holiday decorations and plants.

Poinsettia varieties and novelty plants will be available for purchase at the Dec. 2 Mississippi State University Horticulture Club’s annual holiday plant sale.

The MSU student horticulture club will sell poinsettias and Christmas cacti from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. in the campus greenhouses behind Dorman Hall on Stone Boulevard. Customers are encouraged to get to the sale early as supplies are limited.

MISSISSIPPI STATE – Southern dairy producers will meet at a January conference in Atlanta to address major issues facing the industry.

Stephanie Hill Ward, assistant professor if animal and dairy science at Mississippi State University, is chairing the Southern Dairy Conference planning committee. She said the objective of the Jan. 24-25 conference is to offer informative and thought-provoking presentations on all facets of the dairy industry.

MISSISSIPPI STATE – Scientists at Mississippi State University are working with biologists in Missouri’s Ozarks to get the “bear” facts on one of the largest mammals in the Southeast.

The Missouri Black Bear Project, which will be completed next year, is expected to provide valuable information on estimating populations in Mississippi. A study by scientists in the MSU Forest and Wildlife Research Center in the late 1990s indicated more than 70 percent of Mississippi residents favored increasing the black bear population.

PICAYUNE – Mississippi State University’s Crosby Arboretum has a new, high-tech way for visitors to experience the nature preserve.

Bob Brzuszek, associate professor of landscape architecture at MSU, created an interactive application through GPTrex, a company focused on providing fun, family adventures while boosting interest in a local community’s cultural, historical and educational venues.

MISSISSIPPI STATE – On the first day of the Apparel Design I class at Mississippi State University, most of the students had never threaded a sewing machine, much less made clothes. By the end of the semester, they had each created a dress destined for an orphan somewhere in the world.

Charles Freeman, instructor in MSU’s Department of Apparel, Textiles and Merchandising, said he searched for a project that would incorporate service learning into the clothing design course.

The weather outside may be frightful, but gardeners who want early spring color get out in it to plant spring-flowering bulbs.

Tulips, daffodils, hyacinths and crocus are among the first plants to give us colorful signs that winter is almost over. Many gardeners refer to all of these as bulbs, even though some grow from underground structures that include corms, rhizomes and tubers.

These spring-flowering plants do not provide the instant color generally associated with flowering bedding plants. Bulb crops make us plan ahead.

By Karen Templeton
MSU Ag Communications

MISSISSIPPI STATE – Fifty-one years after graduating from Mississippi State University, Coyt “Bud” West returned to his alma mater to be honored by the industry he served.

On Nov. 17, West’s colleagues, friends, family, and MSU faculty and administration gathered at the university’s poultry science building to honor West as he was inducted into the Mississippi Poultry Association’s Hall of Fame for his many years of service to the poultry industry.

By Kaitlyn Byrne
MSU Ag Communications

MISSISSIPPI STATE – Cheerleading and dairying may appear to have little in common, but Mississippi State University student Rachel Montgomery of Arkabutla, Miss., enjoys both.

Montgomery said she has been cheerleading for 13 years, but her interest in the dairy industry is more recent.

The holidays may be the only time during the year all of your extended family comes together to celebrate the season and enjoy some quality time. However, once a year may not be enough for many families.

For example, grandparents are often eager to watch their grandchildren develop. Families want to stay in contact when loved ones are serving in the military overseas. Parents need to keep tabs on college students far from home. One way to keep in touch is by using a web conferencing or desktop videoconferencing system.

By Karen Templeton
MSU Ag Communications

MISSISSIPPI STATE – A Mississippi State University food scientist shared his expertise to help improve products made by a small, community-based business in Southeastern Africa.

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- All county Extension offices in Mississippi are now equipped to test pressure canner gauges to ensure food safety for home canners.

Paula Threadgill is state program leader for Family and Consumer Sciences with the Mississippi State University Extension Service. She said the economy and the desire to control food quality are reasons more people are canning their own foods.

MISSISSIPPI STATE – The Mississippi State University Horticulture Club received numerous awards at the recent American Society for Horticultural Sciences’ annual meeting.

The club recognized as the society’s 2011 Outstanding Small Club. Presented each year by the society through its Association of Collegiate Branches program, the award salutes excellent undergraduate horticulture clubs with less than 30 members.

MISSISSIPPI STATE – A Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine student’s love of showing dogs helped her win a prestigious scholarship for the third year in a row.

By Kaitlyn Byrne
MSU Ag Communications

MISSISSIPPI STATE – Each year, many Mississippians must decide whether to buy a live or an artificial tree to celebrate the Christmas season.

John Kushla, Mississippi State University Extension forestry specialist at the North Mississippi Research and Extension Center, said artificial trees are usually less expensive than real trees and can last for many seasons, but real Christmas trees provide benefits that artificial trees do not offer.

Pansies and viola bring vivid hues to many gardens during the winter months, but adding the engaging colors and textures of ornamental kale takes a landscape from safe to sensational.