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A person fills a glass with water at a kitchen sink.
October 17, 2024 - Filed Under: Water, Rural Water Association

Rural water systems in Mississippi face some daunting challenges when it comes to upgrades and improvements. Funding ranks at the top of those challenges.

A gravel trail cuts through a garden in front of a building.
October 14, 2024 - Filed Under: Flower Gardens

Children’s learning gardens are a wonderful way to educate young people about plants. They are designed as places for young children to use their imaginations to relate to their surroundings, explore, touch and play as they develop an affection for the natural world. A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of visiting the Pearl Public Library Children’s Learning Garden in Pearl, Mississippi.

A piece of green farm machinery moves through a field of white cotton.
October 11, 2024 - Filed Under: Cotton, Soybeans

Harvest for two of the state’s most significant row crops is well underway, with soybeans and cotton both ahead of schedule.
As of Oct. 6, 2024, the U.S. Department of Agriculture estimated that cotton was 43% harvested, ahead of the five-year average of 31% complete by this date. Soybeans were 76% harvested, where typically the crop is just 60% harvested.

A patch of yellow flowers blooms in a garden.
October 7, 2024 - Filed Under: Flower Gardens

I’ve always enjoyed visiting educational gardens across the state, and my recent trip to the Hill Garden in Brandon, Mississippi, was no exception.

Established by the Rankin County Master Gardeners in 1995, this garden is a treasured landmark and one of the oldest Master Gardener projects in Mississippi.

Three people pose, with the person in the middle holding a plaque.
October 3, 2024 - Filed Under: Economic Development, Natural Resources

PICAYUNE, Miss. -- The Crosby Arboretum was recently designated an Outpost Business by the Mississippi Gulf Coast National Heritage Area, opening the door to future funding opportunities.

The 104-acre plant conservatory managed by the Mississippi State University Extension Service, was eligible for the award through its participation in Gulf Coast Outpost -- a business recognition program launched by the Mississippi Gulf Coast National Heritage Area, or MGCNHA, for nature-based tourism business owners. The Arboretum’s designation was made Sept. 20.

A piece of green farm machinery transfers corn to a bin.
October 1, 2024 - Filed Under: Corn, Rice

Corn and rice harvests wrapped up for Mississippi fields a bit ahead of schedule, helped by the ideal weather leading up to the harvest window.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimated corn harvest was 96% complete by Sept. 22, 2024. This put harvest ahead of the five-year average, which typically has corn 89% harvested by that date.

A bush has a spiky red cluster of flowers.
September 30, 2024 - Filed Under: Flower Gardens

This time of year, my Firespike is putting on a show in my garden. This herbaceous perennial is known for its large, dramatic spikes of bright red, tubular flowers. Each spike features densely packed clusters of 3-inch-long blooms that emerge in a striking, fiery red color, which can deepen to a rich crimson at the tips.

A pond has dried into a fraction of its usual size.
September 26, 2024 - Filed Under: Crops

Knowing that the severity of a drought is more than a measure of weather data, Mississippi State University Extension Service agents across the state gather photos and data weekly to document actual conditions.
Mike Brown, MSU professor of geosciences and state climatologist, helped develop and now oversees an app that allows him to submit detailed, highly localized information to the U.S. Drought Monitor. The Drought Monitor is a publication provided by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and is the basis of much drought-relief efforts nationwide.

Bluish-purple flowers bloom on a stalk.
September 23, 2024 - Filed Under: Flower Gardens

On a recent visit to the Mississippi State University South Mississippi Branch Experiment Station in Poplarville, I was captivated by the beauty of the Angelonia plants in their display gardens.

The Angelonia Angelface series truly impressed me with their snapdragon-like flowers and versatility in various garden and landscape settings.

Wet cotton plant with open bolls.
September 20, 2024 - Filed Under: Agriculture, Cotton

STARKVILLE, Miss. -- Hurricane Francine was reduced to a tropical storm by the time it reached Mississippi, and its rainfall and wind were not enough to cause major damage to the state’s cotton crop despite two-thirds of it having opened beforehand.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service estimated just under 70% of the cotton bolls around the state had opened as of Sept. 9, three days before Francine reached the state.

Boy riding a horse surrounded by three people.
September 18, 2024 - Filed Under: Equine, Equine Assisted Therapy Programs

STARKVILLE, Miss. -- Amy Knight has seen her 13-year-old son, Cameron, make substantial strides in his speech and core strength since he began horse riding three years ago.

People pose for a photo during an open house event.
September 16, 2024 - Filed Under: Family, Children and Parenting, Mississippi LIFT Resource and Referral Network

GLUCKSTADT, Miss. -- Children, parents and child care providers in the Gluckstadt area now have a new learning center with free resources. The Mississippi LIFT Resource and Referral Network at the Mississippi State University Extension Service provides mini-learning stations throughout the center with themed hands-on, play-based educational activities each month. Various free services are available through the center, including an educational lending library, referrals for teacher training, and family support services training.

A plant has small, pink blooms.
September 16, 2024 - Filed Under: Flower Gardens

I have fond memories of walking daily as a kid past my grandmother’s chain-link fence, admiring the bright red flowers on the Turk’s Cap growing along it. Every time I see those flowers today, childhood memories rush through my mind.

Now as an adult gardener, I’ve come to appreciate Turk’s Cap even more for its beauty and resilience.

A hand touching the screen of a tablet to pick a picture from a selection.
September 11, 2024 - Filed Under: 4-H, STEM – Science Technology Engineering and Math, Children and Parenting

STARKVILLE, Miss. -- Mississippi 4-H is developing new programs incorporating ScratchJr, an introductory computer programming application for children ages 4-7, and an instructor with the research group that created the software recently visited Mississippi State University to train educators on its curriculum.

A wooden barrel holds a plant with giant, colorful leaves.
September 9, 2024 - Filed Under: Flower Gardens

Adding a tropical feel to your garden is like creating a lush escape right at home.

With the right plants, you can transform your outdoor space into a mini paradise full of bold colors, dramatic foliage and exotic textures. Tropical plants bring a sense of adventure and tranquility, turning even the simplest garden into a getaway where you can relax and unwind.

Whether you live in a warm climate or just want to bring a bit of the tropics to your backyard, incorporating certain plants can instantly elevate the atmosphere to a unique and inviting retreat.

A drone sprays water on crops
September 6, 2024 - Filed Under: Field Scale Crop Assessment with Drones, Spray Drones, Types of UAS

STARKVILLE, Miss. -- Those interested in learning about the use of unmanned aircraft systems as row crop application sprayers are invited to a seminar at Mississippi State University.

The MSU Spray Drone/UAS Seminar will be held at the Bost Extension Center Oct. 9 from 9 to 11 a.m. This meeting will be presented in person and available online. Topics include regulatory updates, the current Federal Aviation Administration-approved spray drone list, current and potential spray drone restrictions and ongoing spray drone research at MSU.

A soccer ball sits in the foreground with a soccer team and coach in the background.
September 3, 2024 - Filed Under: Family, Children and Parenting

RAYMOND, Miss. -- Extracurricular activities offer many benefits for children and teens, but parents should help young people set important boundaries when it comes to these activities.

“Participating in sports, music, dance and other activities not only helps children learn life skills, like time management and interpersonal skills, but also teaches them about themselves -- what things they are good at and what things they enjoy,” said Lori Elmore-Staton, a human development and family science specialist with the Mississippi State University Extension Service.

Tiny red flowers are tubular shaped.
September 2, 2024 - Filed Under: Flower Gardens

If it seems like every plant in your garden is wilting in this summer’s heat, think about adding some Vermillionaire plants next year.

I recently saw some beautiful Vermillionaire plants at the trial garden of the Mississippi State University South Mississippi Branch Experiment Station in Poplarville. These plants were thriving in the summer heat.

Pumpkin patch
August 30, 2024 - Filed Under: Agri-tourism

STARKVILLE, Miss. -- Farms are the most prominent symbol of agritourism, but the industry contains numerous types of enterprises and entertainment.

The agritourism sector also creates additional income streams for producers and entrepreneurs and has been a proven community development tool in Mississippi, especially in rural areas.

Dry cotton plants grow in rows in a field.
August 29, 2024 - Filed Under: Crops, Cotton, Forages

This summer has not just felt hot and dry; close to half the state is in moderate to severe drought, and temperatures have been mostly in the 90s through all of August.
Mike Brown is the state climatologist and Mississippi State University professor of meteorology. He said much of the northern two-thirds of the state has been fluctuating between drought and being OK.

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