News From 1999

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- School violence in recent years make it more important than ever that today's youth learn early to accept differences in their peers and accept themselves for who they are.

Dr. Louise Davis, child and family development specialist with Mississippi State University's Extension Service, said flexible children and families are best suited to survive any problems that come along.

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Rains across Mississippi the last week of June arrived just in time for many fields, pastures and landscapes desperately needing relief from drought-like conditions.

Dr. Charles Wax, professor and head of geosciences at Mississippi State University, said the state had endured four months with below-average rainfall, but the rains at the end of June helped put Mississippi above average for the month.

"The showers were very scattered, but most places got at least 2 inches," Wax said.

By Norman Winter
MSU Horticulturist
Central Mississippi Research & Extension Center

Some of my most enjoyable days as a horticulturist are those when my work is my hobby and I get to experience unusual plants. This column was borne out of those days.

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- When people in the land of plenty are short of food, agencies are in place to meet needs, but keeping those agencies stocked is a community-wide effort.

John Alford, executive director of the Mississippi Food Network in Jackson, said Mississippians needing emergency food assistance increased 18 percent this year from 1998 levels. His food bank distributes food to local charitable organizations which feed the hungry.

By Chuck Dunlap

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Dozens of 4-H and FFA students gathered at Mississippi State University's new AgriCenter recently to learn how to be winners in cattle and sheep showing, as well as how to be winners in life.

The state's first Be A Champ camp was held June 18 to 20. The camp was established 15 years ago, but was previously available only in Oklahoma and Louisiana. Ages of the campers range from nine to 18 years.

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- A viral disease is threatening unvaccinated horses in Mississippi and Louisiana earlier in the summer than normal.

Dr. Fred Lehman, Extension veterinarian with Mississippi State University's College of Veterinary Medicine, said health officials believe emus from a flock in Lincoln County died recently from Eastern Equine Encephalitis. On June 10, the Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory reported the diagnosis of the virus. Wild birds can carry the virus which is spread through mosquitoes to horses.

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Catfish producers are among the few Mississippi farmers happy with the current market situation.

Jim Steeby, district aquaculture agent with the Mississippi State University Extension Service in Stoneville, said temperatures and markets have favored catfish farmers this year.

"This is shaping up to be one of our best years for catfish with the price of feed and the price of fish," Steeby said. "Catfish is definitely the only bright spot on the agriculture scene so far this year."

By Norman Winter
MSU Horticulturist
Central Mississippi Research & Extension Center

You read about all sorts of plant enthusiasts claiming certain flowers are the Queen of Flowers. To a rose lover it's the rose, to a camellia lover it is the camellia, and so the story goes with daylilies and hostas.

For the vase, for color, for butterflies and for ease of growing, there is much to be said for the old fashioned zinnia as the Queen of the Flower Garden. Many a young grower gets their gardening teeth cut on this flower.

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- The marked decline in welfare numbers since 1996 is heralded by many as a welfare reform success, but questions remain about why people leave welfare and what happens to them next.

By Molly Kinnan

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Many wild dogs and their mischievous antics have become a steady problem for rural and suburban areas.

"Animals are curious and will tend to venture off from time to time. However, keeping a watchful eye on your pet can cut back on some of the wandering," said Dr. Thomas Lenarduzzi, professor of veterinary medicine at Mississippi State University. "Owning a pet is a big responsibility for residents in the city and in rural areas, and pet owners need to be prepared."

By Rebekah Ray

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- They are chemists, architects, engineers -- and invaders.

"I don't know of anything that has been such an unstoppable force in the South like fire ants. Not only are they harmful to humans and animals, they are changing our environment," said Dr. David Pettry, Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station agronomist. Pettry's research has investigated the impact fire ants are having on the environment.

By Chuck Dunlap

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- The first week of the Mississippi shrimp season was a slow one for shrimpers, but coastal experts are confident the 1999 season will be successful.

About 942 boats were counted during a flyover of the Mississippi Sound on opening day, slightly less than the 1,000 counted on opening day the year before. The boats will continue to concentrate their efforts in the Sound before dispersing throughout the Gulf, leaving a small fleet of Coast fishermen to work the Sound for the rest of the summer.

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Crop insurance programs are too complex for a quick fix, and two Mississippi State University agricultural economists want to make sure policymakers understand that even minor changes can have major ramifications on growers and government costs.

By Norman Winter
MSU Horticulturist
Central Mississippi Research & Extension Center

It is remarkable when a plant performs equally well in soils that are acidic or alkaline. It is even more wonderful when that plant has large pink flowers in soils with the higher pH and blue blossoms in the soils with the lower pH.

By Chuck Dunlap

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Forest ownership is a significant family asset that can send children to college, provide current and retirement income, and enable a better lifestyle if owners know how to manage land properly.

Dr. Glenn Hughes, Extension forestry specialist at Mississippi State University, said unfortunately, many private, non-industrial forest landowners, particularly minority or female landowners, are not realizing the full benefit of land ownership. Many encounter problems managing their forest land.

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Losing a pet can be traumatic for everyone involved, but owners can take steps to increase the chances their pet won't get away and that if it does, it will be returned.

Dr. Fred Lehman, Extension veterinarian with Mississippi State University's College of Veterinary Medicine, said preventing a pet from getting away is the first line of defense.

"We recommend a fenced yard of adequate dimensions to prevent your pets from escaping," Lehman said. "If no other options are available, use a good collar and a proper length chain to restrain the pet."

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- The presence of animals can increase the number of ticks in any area, but adequate treatment can reduce the risk to people and pets.

Dr. Doug Gaydon, entomologist with the Mississippi State University Extension Service, said the warmer the winter, the more ticks survive to multiply in the spring. More animals in an area mean tick numbers will be high.

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Mississippi soybean growers, much like other 1999 row crop producers, need a bumper crop to compensate for the depressed market prices.

"When the market is this low and the prospects are this bleak, growers always want to produce record yields to lower their break-even costs," said Dr. Tom Jones, agricultural economist with Mississippi State University's Extension Service.

By Norman Winter
MSU Horticulturist
Central Mississippi Research & Extension Center

Few things are prettier than a daylily garden that looks like a changing kaleidoscope of color for weeks. There are thousands of spectacular daylilies for sale, some even approaching the cost of my first car.

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- A magnetic card system is revolutionizing the way the government distributes benefits to needy Americans.

By 2002, all states will distribute food stamp payments electronically. Electronic benefits transfer will phase out coupon books, and magnetic strip cards will be used instead.

Dr. Katherine Cason, an Extension program coordinator at Clemson University in South Carolina, said the federally mandated system is making benefits transfer more accurate and convenient.