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Small white, blue and pink flowers bloom from a container.
February 28, 2022 - Filed Under: Flower Gardens

This week marks the official beginning of meteorological spring, and that means it’s time to start getting our gardens and landscapes ready for the coming year. One of the first tasks may be to get your containers ready, as more and more home gardeners are becoming interested in the joys of growing plants in containers.

Three young people sit on ATVs as they listen to their instructor.
February 23, 2022 - Filed Under: 4-H, 4-H Safety Programs, ATV Safety

A recent grant award is helping provide all-terrain vehicle safety training to Mississippi 4-H’ers. The Mississippi State University Extension Service 4-H ATV Safety Program recently received $10,000 from Polaris through the company’s T.R.A.I.L.S. grant program. The funds purchased two youth sized Polaris ATVs and safety equipment. T.R.A.I.L.S. is an acronym for trail development, responsible riding, access, initiatives, lobbying and safety.

A group of people sitting around a table.
February 23, 2022 - Filed Under: Agriculture, Crops, Commercial Horticulture, Swine, Forestry

VERONA, Miss. -- Each February, agricultural producers in Mississippi speak, and personnel with the Mississippi State University Extension Service and Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station listen.

Producer Advisory Council meetings present opportunities for growers to meet with MSU commodity experts and share ideas for research and educational projects.

February 21, 2022 - Filed Under: Environment, Wildlife

For most hunters and bird enthusiasts in the Southeast, the term “game bird” conjures up images of a turkey gobbler in full strut, a covey of quail flushing from the brush and tall grass or an incoming group of mourning doves on the horizon. But the American Woodcock garners little attention despite being one of the most common game bird species.

A shrub has green leaves with white and red markings.
February 21, 2022 - Filed Under: Flower Gardens

My wife, Katie, and I just spent a long weekend in central Florida -- Mount Dora to be exact -- for much needed rest and relaxation. I also did a radio interview for the new Southern Gardening book, but more on that later. I love travelling and visiting places that are in a different growing zone from my own.

February 17, 2022 - Filed Under: Family, Children and Parenting

The Mississippi State University Extension Service has been awarded $5 million to directly impact early-childhood education in the state by developing a new curriculum for children from birth through age 5. The funds will be used to develop “My Mississippi Adventures,” a developmentally appropriate, integrated curriculum to be used in licensed child care facilities.

Two women work in an office setting.
February 15, 2022 - Filed Under: Community, Fisheries

Communities along the Gulf Coast facing the constant challenge of sea-level rise coupled with heavy rains and tropical storms have an ally in the Resilience to Future Flooding project. This project focuses on addressing communication and financial barriers to sea-level rise resilience in the northern Gulf of Mexico.

Calculator, pencil, receipts and monthly budget sheets on a table.
February 15, 2022 - Filed Under: Family, Family Financial Management, Basic Money Management

The first step to achieving financial fitness is creating a budget, but that first step can be hard to take. This step-by-step approach makes the budgeting process less intimidating.

Cows graze in a field.
February 14, 2022 - Filed Under: Forages, Management - Forages

The Mississippi State University Extension Service invites beef cattle and hay producers to attend the Cool-Season Forage Field Day March 4 in Starkville.

Spikes of purple flowers extend from green foliage.
February 14, 2022 - Filed Under: Flower Gardens

On this bright, sunny morning, even though it was 30 when I got out of bed, I know for a fact that spring is almost here. That means it’s time to get serious about what I’m going to plant in my home garden and landscape this year.

Two young women display a lamb in a show ring.
February 11, 2022 - Filed Under: 4-H, 4-H Livestock Program, Youth Livestock

JACKSON, Miss. -- Lily and Emma Grace Putnam raised their Mississippi-bred reserve champion lamb in their Sunflower County pasture, which they recently finished fencing in with the help of loans and grants.

“We have always had the land and have been pasturing it in piece by piece as we’ve been able to, but we needed to complete the fencing this year so we could finish breeding our ewes,” said Lily Putnam, a Sunflower County 4-H’er based in Sunflower County. “The loan was helpful to me because we used it to buy equipment to get ready for lambing and start a breeding business.”

February 7, 2022 - Filed Under: Wildlife, White-Tailed Deer

HOLLY SPRINGS, Miss. -- Hunters and landowners in Mississippi are invited to an upcoming group discussion on chronic wasting disease.

“White-Tailed Deer and Chronic Wasting Disease: Hunter and Landowner Group Discussion” will be hosted by the Mississippi State University Extension Service Feb. 25 at the Extension office in Marshall County. This event was moved from its original scheduled date in January to allow for more participation.

Tiny plants grow in black trays.
February 7, 2022 - Filed Under: Flower Gardens

As I sit at my desk on a cold winter morning, I realize that saying “it’s cold” is completely subjective; I also know that spring isn’t far away. There are 41 days to astronomical spring, but meteorological spring is so much better, being only 22 days away. There’s one gardening activity I enjoy at this time of year that beats the wintry mixes, and that is starting the seeds for my garden and landscape.

February 7, 2022 - Filed Under: Commercial Horticulture, Master Gardener, Lawn and Garden, Floral Design, Flower Gardens

Pat Scace, floral display supervisor at the Missouri Botanical Garden will give a lecture on March 21 from 9 to 11 a.m. at the Mississippi State University Coastal Research and Extension Center. It will conclude with a recognition ceremony for the newest group of certified MSU Extension Service Master Floral Designers. Deadline to register is March 14.

January 31, 2022 - Filed Under: Extension Program Priorities, Beef

A beef cattle specialist with the Mississippi State University Extension Service has been recognized for her service and research with one of the most prestigious honors in the field of animal science. 

Brandi Karisch, associate Extension and research professor in the MSU Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences, received the 2022 Southern Section of the American Society of Animal Science award during the organization’s annual meeting.

A variety of flowers are lined with wood.
January 31, 2022 - Filed Under: Flower Gardens

Although daffodils are starting to show their tops through the bare ground, watching them emerge does not give gardeners much to do during the winter months.

But this time spent waiting for spring’s arrival is the perfect opportunity to get ready for the growing season. A project every gardener will benefit from is building a raised bed.

A raised bed is simply a landscape or garden bed that is higher than the surrounding grade. These beds are useful for both vegetables and flowers.

A slow cooker filled with food.
January 31, 2022 - Filed Under: Food and Health, Food, Food Safety

RAYMOND, Miss. -- Slow cookers are winter workhorses in many kitchens, helping serve everything from breakfast to dinner. But no matter the dish, cooks should be sure to follow some basic food safety guidelines.

When used properly, these small, countertop appliances are safe and convenient.

A tall, purple weed in the foreground with green grass in the back.
January 27, 2022 - Filed Under: Natural Resources, Pond and Lake Management, Pond and Lake Water Quality, Pond and Lake Topics, Pond and Lake Management Resources

Some plant species found in ponds can multiply and interfere with pond use and fish management, but not all water plants are bad.

January 24, 2022 - Filed Under: Agriculture, Beef

Individuals interested in the beef cattle industry are invited to a field day hosted by Mississippi State University. The Beef Cattle Field Day will be held March 31 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the MSU Coastal Plain Branch Experiment Station located at 51 Coastal Plains Road in Newton.

Tiny, red plant sprouts have been cut and placed in a pile.
January 24, 2022 - Filed Under: Flower Gardens

If you’re the kind of gardener who has something fresh from the backyard on the table almost every day of summer, January meals can seem a little dreary. One way to keep fresh home produce on your plate all winter long is by growing microgreens. It does not take a lot of effort or space, and the colorful and tasty results can have a big impact at mealtime.

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