News From 2000

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Mississippi farmers are finding that heat didn't hurt this year's rice crop, as yields are looking good near the end of harvest.

A wet spring meant a late rice planting, so harvest is a little behind schedule, but about 75 to 80 percent of the state's acreage was out of the field by early October. Last year Mississippi harvested 323,000 acres of rice.

Joe Street, Extension rice specialist at the Delta Research and Extension Center in Stoneville, said most producers are satisfied with yields expected to average 5,800 pounds an acre.

By Norman Winter
MSU Horticulturist
Central Mississippi Research & Extension Center

One of the best free events in the Southeastern United States, the Fall Flower and Garden Fest at the Truck Crops Branch Experiment Station in Crystal Springs, is almost here. The two-day celebration is scheduled for Oct. 13 and 14 beginning at 9 a.m. each day. The festivities have been designed for the whole family.

By Chantel Lott

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- The flu attacks many victims each year, but taking some precautions can reduce the severity of the virus.

Influenza, or flu, is an acute respiratory infection, and its symptoms usually include fever, aches, chills, weakness, loss of appetite, and aching of the head, back, arms and legs. In addition, a sore throat and dry cough, nausea and burning eyes may accompany the virus.

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- If the start of fall were determined by hardwoods, fall came a couple months early across much of Mississippi this year.

Hardwoods began showing fall yellows, oranges and browns and dropping leaves by early September this summer, about six weeks ahead of schedule. Stephen Dicke, forestry specialist with Mississippi State University's Extension Service, said these trees weren't necessarily dying from the drought.

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Mississippi blueberries proved this year that a drought isn't a bad thing if you have irrigation.

The state had a good blueberry crop this year with about 4 million pounds sold. John Braswell, Extension horticulture specialist with Mississippi State University's South Mississippi Research and Extension Center in Poplarville, said about 80 percent of the state's 1,600 acres are located in the drought-stricken southeast part of the state. The drought actually was a benefit at harvest.

By Chantel Lott

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- The fall harvest season and the preparation for winter mean an increase in farming activities and the risks that come with them.

"Harvest season usually results in an increase in farm accidents nationwide. Many accidents occur when farmers are in a hurry. A large percentage of farm accidents are fatal," said Herb Willcutt, agricultural engineer with Mississippi State University's Extension Service.

"The fourth leading cause of non-highway accidental deaths in Mississippi is farm-related,"Willcutt said.

By Norman Winter
MSU Horticulturist
Central Mississippi Research & Extension Center

Sonrise was first, then came Samson (the perfect fall plant), and now Sonset is probably the prettiest lantana ever created. These are precious gifts from a divine creator, and Jim Covington -- also known as Mr. Lantana and owner of Clinton Professional Nursery in Mississippi -- will quickly give the glory where it is due.

By Chantel Lott

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- A relatively new form of therapy holds promise for individuals with various types of physical and mental disabilities and movement dysfunctions.

Therapeutic riding, or hippotherapy, offers an alternative to conventional treatment and sometimes is even used with conventional therapy.

It can be valuable at any age to persons with amputations, autism, Down Syndrome, emotional disabilities, muscular dystrophy, spinal cord injuries, cerebral palsy and a variety of other conditions.

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- A new Internet radio network is up and running, and offers programming from Mississippi State University specialists on a wide variety of topics.

RadioSource.net is a portal website posting audio programming that can be downloaded for rebroadcast or streamed for consumer use. It is provided through the cooperation of MSU and 11 other participating institutions.

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Biofilters may be the key to protecting Mississippi's air quality and wood industry as each new decade brings stricter regulations to protect the environment.

Susan Diehl, associate professor with the Forest Products Laboratory at Mississippi State University, said the 1990 Clean Air Act focused on air emissions from dry kilns and wood presses. The Environmental Protection Agency has mandated use of multimillion dollar incineration units on kilns for all new companies and those not in compliance with air quality standards.

By Crystel Bailey

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Mississippi sweetpotato farmers can expect variable crops this year, depending on the amount of rainfall each of their fields received.

"Most farmers can expect an average crop, but it will vary because some fields received more rain than others. There will probably not be as many bigger potatoes because of the drought. Not only do dry conditions stunt their growth, but it allows timely harvest that prevents oversizing," said Paul Thompson, Extension horticulture specialist for Mississippi State University.

By Norman Winter
MSU Horticulturist
Central Mississippi Research & Extension Center

Names like Chinese Flame Tree and Bougainvillea Goldenrain Tree should give you clues that this is a tree with some valuable color for the landscape. Here are two more descriptive words that should get your attention this year: drought tolerant.

Since the first of August, I have been watching one bloom and bloom, and it was the same during last year's drought, too.

By Crystel Bailey

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- More and more Mississippi 4-Hers are pledging their head, heart, hands and health toward improving themselves and their communities through special programs.

"Membership totals for 2000 are not yet in, but membership increased by 38 percent from 1998 to 1999, totaling 100,896 youths involved in 4-H in Mississippi last year," said Susan Holder, 4-H state leader at Mississippi State University's Extension Service.

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Mississippi businesses fighting a never- ending battle to stay competitive got some help from specialists brought to a conference at Mississippi State University.

Thirty-two Mississippi manufacturers were represented at MSU's Extension Service Food and Fiber Center's Lean Manufacturing Conference in September. They came to learn ways to reduce waste and increase profitability in manufacturing, a concept known as lean manufacturing.

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Mississippi's cattle producers are making their annual fall pilgrimages to markets earlier than normal as the drought leaves them little choice.

Charlie Forrest, marketing specialist with Mississippi State University's Extension Service, said market activity is running about a month ahead of schedule. Producers traditionally cull cattle between late September and October to reduce the number of mouths to feed in the winter.

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Mississippians are not in the habit of keeping track of water supplies, but a second summer of drought is taking its toll on the underground water stores.

Most of the state gets its water from underground aquifers. A few areas use surface water for their supply, but most municipalities dig wells to serve the needs of communities, industries and agriculture.

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- A hay season like this year's leaves cattle producers with only one thing to cut: cows.

Most Mississippi cattle producers who were holding out hope for a decent hay cutting before fall now realize it is time to cull herds before they are left with too many mouths and not enough feed to last the winter.

By Crystel Bailey

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Mississippi may experience long-term plant loss and severe soil moisture depletion if plentiful rains do not come in time to heal the drought damage.

"Parts of Mississippi are experiencing the worst drought since 1954 and 1980. The Delta, northeast Mississippi and some parts south of Jackson have suffered the most from the lack of rainfall," said Charles Wax, head of geosciences at Mississippi State University.

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- It's too late to do anything for this year's crops, but farmers hurt by two years of drought should begin to act now to reduce their susceptibility to future drought.

Short of installing irrigation systems, there are options that can give crops a little relief during blistering, dry summers. These include early planting, the use of early maturing varieties and a departure from clean tillage systems.

By Norman Winter
MSU Horticulturist
Central Mississippi Research & Extension Center

In Nocona, Texas, which is close to where I grew up, they have declared a water crisis, and residents can only water their lawn and plants one day a week. Stories like that are becoming all too common, and not just west of here.

Two years of prolonged drought have old-timers reminiscing about past droughts like in 1950. This also happened in the late 1970s, which led to the Denver Water Department developing the term "xeriscape" in 1981.