News
MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Shopping for a wedding dress can overwhelm a new bride and make her think finding the groom was easy.
Dr. Betty Fulwood, clothing specialist with the Mississippi State University Extension Service, said many options are available as brides search for the wedding dress of their dreams.
MISSISSIPPI STATE -- "For richer, for poorer" is usually in the vows, but many couples may not realize the potential hardship financial issues can have on their marriage.
"Finances are a common source of conflict for couples, but as with many other issues, good communication can help reduce the problems on the relationship," said Dr. Louise Davis, child and family development specialist with Mississippi State University's Extension Service.
By Jamie Vickers
MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Convert a hobby into a money-saving opportunity by using homegrown flowers and greenery for wedding decorations.
"One of the best ways to make a wedding personal and keep the cost down is to grow your own flowers," said Norman Winter, Extension horticulturist with Mississippi State University.
"Growing flowers for a wedding is particularly convenient for June weddings," Winter said. "Even if some flowers such as roses are planted in January, there should be a good number of blooms by June."
MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Most newlyweds have a closet full of gifts they didn't need or want, but choosing a quality item will reduce the chances of a gift going into storage instead of regular use.
Kitchen items are popular wedding gifts for engaged couples. Most newlyweds, especially those setting up their first home, need practical and quality items that will last for years.
By Norman Winter
Horticulturist
Central Mississippi Research & Extension Center
A recent trip to exchange Christmas gifts actually perked my spirits a little when I found a new shipment of roses ready for winter planting on the shelves. The aspect of new plants, changes in the garden, and blooms in the springtime have many of us talking about gardening even on these coldest days of winter.
By Norman Winter
Horticulturist
Central Mississippi Research & Extension Center
The New Year looks very promising from the standpoint of new plants for the gardener. The All-America Selections committee has recognized 12 winners for 1999. These winners also represent several countries like Germany, Japan, Taiwan and China.
By Norman Winter
Horticulturist
Central Mississippi Research & Extension Center
As I attempted to button my favorite pair of pants, it became quite evident there was a problem. They had obviously shrunk from high humidity in my closet. It looks like the same New Year's resolution will be at the top of my list again, but only after gorging during the bowl games.
There are several New Year's gardening resolutions we all need to make to have a better and more environmentally friendly garden next year.
MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Low yields and market problems brought on by Mississippi's weather challenges and Asian economic problems resulted in an estimated 8 percent loss to the state's agriculture's total gross income.
Dr. John Robinson, agricultural economist with Mississippi State University's Extension Service, said observers should remember 1997 was a record year, and supplies were high going into 1998. The "Asian Flu" resulted in less movement of U.S. products to Pacific Rim countries.
MISSISSIPPI STATE -- The poultry industry in Mississippi fared well again in 1998, retaining its top agricultural spot in the state as excellent prices boosted the projected value into record territory.
Mississippi broilers and eggs combined to bring an estimated 1998 value of $1.46 billion, up 6.6 percent from 1997. Poultry topped forestry, valued at $1.31 billion, as the state's top agricultural commodity. Broilers saw a projected 8 percent increase in value to $1.3 billion, while eggs actually declined 5 percent from 1997 to $139 million.
MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Mississippi's timber industry may break its string of record years as preliminary figures show a slight decrease in value as higher prices couldn't completely offset reduced harvests.
The state's timber industry has a 1998 projected value of $1.31 billion, down about $3 million from 1997. This fraction of 1 percent decrease still put it above the 1996 harvest value.
MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Mississippi cotton growers chose to plant fewer acres in 1998 knowing the world market offered little promise. The hot, dry summer prevented a repeat of 1997's record yields, but growers still managed to harvest near the five-year average.
Dr. John Robinson, agricultural economist with Mississippi State University's Extension Service, predicted the 1998 farm-gate value of Mississippi's cotton will be about $541 million, down 16 percent from the previous year. Cotton felt a triple whammy from reduced acres, smaller yields and lower prices.
By Norman Winter
Horticulturist
Central Mississippi Research & Extension Center
Before beginning a program on landscaping with native plants, I asked some in the crowd what were some of their favorites. Plants like crape myrtles and camellias were high on their lists, as were several other plants from Japan and China.
Even though most of the plants they listed weren't natives, we as gardeners can create quite a landscape with home-style Southern plants. Mississippians can have an effective four-season landscape using native plants.
MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Many homeowners are considering ways to put their Mississippi homes to work for them in the growing business trend of bed and breakfasts.
"As Mississippi's tourism grows, so does the interest in bed and breakfasts," said Linda Mitchell, coordinator of the Family and Youth Center in Lee County. Mitchell recently arranged a conference in Verona, Jackson and at Mississippi State University held consecutively and joined audiovisually by technology.
MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Tragedies happen every month, week and day of the year, so why do they seem so much more devastating around the holidays?
Dr. Louise Davis, child and family development specialist with Mississippi State University's Extension Service, said people naturally notice unexpected events more than the common experiences of life. Even when someone has battled an illness for a long time, their family and friends still don't expect a death around the holidays.
By Jamie Vickers
MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Don't break a New Year's resolution to save money this year. Create a budget in six steps that helps manage money with careful planning.
"Successful money management requires planning," said Dr. Beverly Howell, family economist with the Mississippi State University Extension Service. "It also requires self-discipline and the ability to say ëno' to unnecessary spending, which is why saving money is an easy New Year's resolution to break."
The first of six steps to creating and staying with a budget is to determine goals.
MISSISSIPPI STATE -- While heredity decrees that some people start life with a pair of glasses and some centenarians need no vision aids, eyes should be babied so they last a lifetime.
Linda Patterson, health education specialist with the Mississippi State University Extension Service, said eyes are fragile and should be treated with care. Have eyes examined regularly, and take all measures to avoid eye injuries.
MISSISSIPPI STATE -- A program aimed at improving soybean yields in Mississippi helped farmers produce 1998 soybean yields that, despite the drought, averaged 45 bushels an acre, 20 more than the state average.
MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Numerous Mississippi farmers are planting vegetation buffer strips between crop land and waterways to improve water quality and fight erosion.
Dr. Larry Oldham, soil specialist with Mississippi State University's Extension Service, said buffer strips are narrow strips of grass or trees between crop land and surface waters that slow the water coming off crop land.
By Norman Winter
Horticulturist
Central Mississippi Research & Extension Center
There are two things gardeners can't get enough of, besides plants: You can't have too many pruning shears or gardening books. A good book on gardening or plants may be the easiest and best gift for the gardener on your list.
My favorite book on perennials is Perennial Garden Color by Dr. William C. Welch. It is available from Taylor Publishing. This is one the most informative, beautiful and interesting books on perennials.
By Norman Winter
Horticulturist
Central Mississippi Research & Extension Center
This is the time of the year when many landscapes look rather barren and ineffective without evergreens. Even before a hard freeze, the dormant grass and defoliated trees bring a different look to the landscape.
Evergreens, which should serve as our backdrop for annuals and perennials the rest of the year, are important in a good winter landscape. Evergreens include more than just conifers.
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