News From 2014

VERONA -- Row-crop farmers and agricultural consultants heard reports on some of the challenges researchers are studying at the North Mississippi Research and Extension Center during the Aug. 7 field day.

Irrigation decisions, variety selections, planting dates, crop residue management and tillage were a few of the issues addressed.

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Conservation land management practices have made the Pleasant Lake Plantation in Leflore County a model of sustainability and functionality.

Pleasant Lake has about 1,700 acres near Greenwood. The plantation includes about 500 acres in row crop production, 600 acres in timber, 110 acres in Conservation Reserve Program grassland, along with a 50-acre lake and lowlands that are prone to flooding.

Some of the garden vegetables I miss in the summer are leafy greens.

High temperatures cause undesirable bitterness in the greens, and I don’t like high temperatures, either. But there is a way you can enjoy fresh-grown greens in the summer and not even leave the air conditioning: You can grow your own microgreens.

Growing microgreens is a fun way to add fresh flavors and a tender crunch to your dishes. I have been growing microgreens for about five years, and they are easy for the home gardener to grow.

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Winter wheat producers in five Mississippi counties can add a Supplemental Coverage Option to their crop insurance for 2015.

Growers in Bolivar, Coahoma, Sunflower, Tallahatchie and Washington counties are eligible for the Supplemental Coverage Option that was authorized in the Agricultural Act of 2014.

By Sid Salter
MSU Office of Public Affairs

JACKSON -- Locally grown produce continues to increase in popularity on Mississippi’s kitchen counters, grocery shelves and restaurant menus as consumers seek fresher fruits and vegetables.

To get them, they often turn to the state’s truck crops growers, who traditionally sold their specialty items, such as tomatoes, berries, nuts and sweet corn, from the beds of their pickup trucks.

MISSISSIPPI STATE – The National Association of County Agricultural Agents recognized six Mississippi State University Extension Service experts for their skill in connecting with clients.

MSU personnel won top honors in four of the 14 categories in the association’s Communications Awards Program.

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Largemouth bass are one of the most popular sport fish in Mississippi, and many anglers chase these beasts on the Magnolia State’s medium to large reservoirs every day.

With a little help from the pond owner, though, smaller bodies of water -- one acre and larger -- can also produce trophy bass consistently.

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- While many students took a break this summer from the rigors of college life, one Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine student spent her time researching amoeba-related diseases.

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Summer means fun in the sun, but young children need extra protection against the dangers associated with being outside too long.

With average summer temperatures in Mississippi in the 90s, safety precautions are required to protect children while they play.

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Everyone needs friends to improve their quality of life, even dairy calves.

In a study on the effects of housing types, Mississippi State University scientists found that dairy calves develop better when raised in pairs. Stephanie Ward, a dairy management and nutrition scientist in the MSU-based Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station, said this research should provide insight for dairy farmers who practice grass-based dairying.

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Business owners eager to capitalize on the power of technology can attend a free series of webinars scheduled for this fall.

The Mississippi State University Extension Service and the Mississippi Development Authority’s Entrepreneur Center have partnered to offer four sessions about web-based services and strategies.

Colorful caladiums at a popular theme park fascinated me on a recent trip to Florida. They were everywhere I looked.

Some caladiums neatly defined border edges or were mass planted in beds, but they were not all planted in the usual landscape places. The caladiums were planted in containers of every shape, size and color, and some were even in hanging baskets.

This time of year, it’s our faces -- not winter snow drifts -- that are glistening in the sunlight, but it’s never too early to start thinking about Christmas. By planning now, you can avoid sweating about gift ideas during the holidays.

If you are even remotely interested in creating personalized presents for family and friends, now is the time to get started. You can finish your list early, check it twice and save a few bucks with some easy-to-create gifts.

By James E. “Jim” Miller
Professor Emeritus, Department of Wildlife Fisheries and Aquaculture
MSU Extension Service

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- That first raucous, exhilarating gobble of the spring season heralds the thrill of the chase for millions of North American turkey hunters, including me.

Historians estimate between 7 and 10 million wild turkeys roamed the continent prior to European settlement. However, by the 1930s, only 30,000 birds remained, most in isolated populations in a few states.

STONEVILLE -- There is a reason catfish do well in Mississippi: hot summers.

“An unusually cool summer like we have had can create nice days for people, but the temperatures have caused some problems for our catfish,” said Jimmy Avery, Extension aquaculture specialist at the Mississippi State University Delta Research and Extension Center.

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Movie fans can enjoy three free Japanese films at an upcoming series at Mississippi State University’s Bost Extension Center.

The Japan Outreach Program at MSU is presenting the comedy “ROBO-G” on Aug. 22 from 6-8 p.m., the animated adventure “Brave Story” on Sept. 12 from 5-7 p.m., and the drama “Always: Sunset on Third Street 3” on Sept. 26 from 5-7 p.m.

DURANT -- A group project in Holmes County is one small town’s effort to end Mississippi’s national reign as the leader in obesity.

Detra Bishop, pastor of the John Wesley United Methodist Church in Durant, just marked the first anniversary of her church’s Health Education Center. She started the center in March 2013, involving people from other churches and a variety of contributing organizations.

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- A Mississippi State University food science doctoral student, received top honors at the Institute of Food Technologists’ Annual Meeting and Food Expo.